In a recent statement, popular Catholic priest Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has called for the proposed N62,000 national minimum wage to be extended to government officials, including governors and members of the National Assembly.
Mbaka criticized the high allowances allocated to lawmakers while average Nigerians are suffering from economic hardship. He questioned why civil servants who “wake early and return late daily” are not being paid adequately, while government officials enjoy generous perks.
The statement comes as the Federal Government has offered to pay workers N62,000 as the new minimum wage, after the organized labor reduced its initial demand from N494,000 to N250,000.
Mbaka urged the government to handle the minimum wage issue cautiously to avoid a potential crisis. He argued that if the government can afford to pay N62,000 to civil servants, the same should apply to all government officials, as “they are all civil servants.”
The outspoken priest warned that the situation must be handled with care, as it could be “hijacked” and have unforeseen ripple effects if not addressed properly.