In a scathing critique, Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure in the Labour Party (LP), has lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Bola Tinubu for its handling of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)’s new minimum wage demand.
Speaking during an interview with Vanguard, Okonkwo, a barrister, expressed his confusion over the APC government’s actions, labeling them as “difficult to understand.”
Okonkwo lamented the “persistent squandering” that has characterized the Tinubu administration, urging the president to find a solution to the NLC’s demand for a ₦250,000 minimum wage.
The LP chieftain questioned the government’s claim that the NLC’s demand is unaffordable, arguing that “Nigeria has money, materials, and men, but we have incompetent and corrupt leaders.”
Okonkwo accused the government of prioritizing their own interests over the welfare of the people, citing examples of excessive government spending on projects like a presidential jet, a car park for the National Assembly, and a new house for the Vice President.
“This government must elevate the love of the country far above their love of capacity,” Okonkwo stated, criticizing the government for “chasing rats while people’s houses are burning.”
The barrister defended the NLC’s demand, stating that it is “very reasonable and objective,” and called on the government to provide a “reasonable” alternative if they claim the ₦250,000 demand is unaffordable.
Okonkwo’s scathing remarks highlight the growing dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration’s handling of the NLC’s minimum wage demand and the broader economic challenges facing the country.