Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, has issued a call to President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the urgent need to reduce the cost of governance. He believes this step is essential to enable the government to allocate better wages for workers, which is a pressing issue given the current economic climate.
Speaking to journalists in Awka on Tuesday, Ezeokafor voiced his dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s proposed minimum wage of N62,000. He highlighted that this amount is insufficient, especially considering the rising cost of living that is making daily survival increasingly challenging for the average Nigerian.
“The proposed wage is poor considering the high cost of living in the country today,” Ezeokafor remarked. He elaborated on the struggles faced by workers, pointing out that the cost of basic necessities such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation has skyrocketed, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.
Ezeokafor further argued that even a minimum wage of N100,000 would fall short of adequately addressing the needs of Nigerian workers. “Even N100,000 minimum wage is not enough to meet the basic needs of Nigerian workers,” he stated, underscoring the wide gap between current wages and the actual cost of living.
The Bishop’s comments reflect a broader concern among many Nigerians about the economic policies of the government. By calling for a reduction in the cost of governance, Ezeokafor is advocating for a more efficient allocation of resources, which could potentially lead to improved living standards for workers.
Ezeokafor’s appeal to President Tinubu underscores the critical need for economic reforms that prioritize the welfare of workers. His remarks serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the Nigerian workforce and the necessity for the government to take meaningful steps to address these issues.
He said: “It is unfortunate to hear about the minimum wage debates. To me, N100,000 is even not enough, looking at how some persons siphon monies meant for every Nigerian.
“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 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? 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.
“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 itself.
“Cut down the cost of governance. Use the money to settle workers and poor Nigerians.”
The cleric warned that there could be a revolution if the welfare of workers is not guaranteed.
He added, “See how the Burkina Faso President is managing the economy of the country. The President of Uruguay, see how he is managing their economy.
“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 they should reduce the money they are sharing to themselves. If not, there could be a revolution.”
