A Catholic priest and the founder of Adoration Ministries in Enugu State, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, has recently voiced a controversial opinion regarding the ongoing discussions between the Federal Government and labor unions over the new minimum wage.
The government has proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000, but labor unions are demanding a substantial increase to N250,000.
Father Mbaka criticized the substantial allowances given to legislators despite the financial struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians. He suggested that senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives should also be paid the proposed N62,000 minimum wage, highlighting the disparity between their earnings and those of average citizens.
His remarks come at a critical time as the government and labor unions negotiate the new minimum wage. Father Mbaka urged the Federal Government to handle the minimum wage issue with caution to avoid potential crises. He emphasized the importance of acting carefully to prevent any negative fallout.
In an interview with journalists on Saturday, Mbaka stated, “If we decide to give labour N60,000 or N62,000, why not generalize it to the House of Assembly members, senatorial members, House of Representative members, and governors?”
“They are all civil servants, so are the others slaves? I can’t understand why they are receiving billions in sitting allowance, wardrobe allowance, newspaper allowance, and suffering allowance. The people that should have such allowances are those suffering in the village.”
Father Mbaka further questioned the fairness of the current wage system, saying, “How much are our teachers, nurses, and doctors being paid? Let’s be realistic, our civil servants who wake early and return late daily, how much are they being paid? Given the level of inflation in the country, it is clear that we are not being sincere.”
He concluded by warning of the potential consequences of mishandling the wage issue: “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.”