Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, a popular Catholic priest, has encouraged the Federal Government to approach the minimum wage issue with caution in order to avoid a potential crisis.
The cleric’s words came amid ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and labour unions over the new minimum wage, which the government has suggested at N62,000 but labour unions demand N250,000.
Mbaka questioned the allowances paid to politicians despite Nigerians’ struggles, arguing that senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives should all get the proposed N62,000 minimum wage.
He recommended the federal government take precautions to avert a crisis.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mbaka stated, “If we decide to give labour N60,000 or N62,000, why not generalise it to the House of Assembly members, senatorial members, House of Representatives members, and governors?
“They are all civil servants; so are the others slaves? I can’t understand why there are such amazing billions as sitting allowance, wardrobe allowance, newspaper allowance, and suffering allowance.
“The people that should have such allowances are those suffering in the village.”
Speaking further, Mbaka said, “How much are our teachers, nurses, and doctors being paid? Let’s be realistic: for our civil servants who wake up early and return late daily, how much are they being paid?
“Looking at the level of inflation in the country, you will see that we are all not sincere in this country.
“I’m pleading with the government that a stitch in time saves nine; this situation must be handled with care because it might be hijacked and nobody knows the ripple effect.”
