.png)
By Madu Obi
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor is not satisfied with the N62,000 being proposed by the federal government as minimum wage, urging the government to slash the jumbo pay of members of the National Assembly and cut the cost of governance.
He argued that even a minimum wage of N100, 000 won't be enough to meet the basic needs of a Nigerian worker.
In an interview, Bishop Ezeokafor said he was not happy with what he described as the back and forth debate between the federal government and the organized labour, noting that the debate has started looking like something that could never be resolved.
He said: "It is actually starting to look like something that will be perennial; something that can never have a solution.
If you look deeply, you begin to ask if those handling it are really sincere. If things are handled better, we will be able to meet the demands of the workers.
I am so much worried about the happenings. I really want this country to move forward.
It is unfortunate to hear about the debates. They go through stages. They met and proposed N30, 000; then N48, 000 and from there to N62, 000."
"To me, N100, 000 is even not enough, looking at how some persons siphon monies meant for every Nigerian. Watching how the national cake is being shared by these people, you’ll shudder.
"It is a question of living in a very big blessed country and at the same time the workers and masses are suffering because some individuals are taking home what belongs to the society, leaving the workers and the general public to be gnashing their teeth.
"Let us look at the N62, 000 proposal. From it, someone will take care of his health, transportation, accommodation, feeding and everything about life per month and one month is 30 days on the average.
"Will that person ever be able to have a roof over his head? Building a simple house, maybe, two-bedroom bungalow, it is not possible. And yet they see it as too much to be paid to the people. I do not believe that we are telling ourselves the truth.
"Let us be honest, especially those in government, because if we do not take our time, if we do not care, if we do not do what we are supposed to do, we may end up putting this country into serious chaos.
"There is a saying that a hungry man is an angry man. People are hungry and lack basic things. Nigeria is so blessed with natural resources. Take for example petroleum alone. What comes out from it will serve Nigeria but, unfortunately, some people are putting things into their pockets alone and they consider it as their birthright at the expense of the members of Nigeria Society.
‘When I speak I’m not speaking only about the workers’ salary; I’m speaking about developing the country. We need to have a developed country from what God has given us.
‘When I hear people say that if government starts paying N62, 000 it cannot sustain it, I think such people may be selfish. If they are looking for where to source the money from, they should slash the National Assembly members’ jumbo salaries, the governors’ and the federal government’s salaries and emoluments. Cut down the cost of governance and use the money to settle workers and poor Nigerians.
"What extra job are they doing to warrant such jumbo salaries? Labour should tell them that they can pay the money. Let them cut down the cost of running the government. You see somebody debating paying N62, 000 while they are going home with N30 million monthly. If government is sincere, it should reduce the money they are sharing to themselves. If not, there could be a revolution".
Comments