Primate Elijah Ayodele, the spiritual leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has directed a message to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to increase the minimum wage for workers to ₦100,000.
Ayodele’s request was officially communicated in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, on Thursday.
The cleric argued that a hike in the minimum wage would help mitigate the adverse effects of subsidy removal, proposing it as a more effective solution compared to the proposed ₦8,000 palliatives for 12 million households.
Primate Ayodele expressed scepticism that the ₦8,000 palliatives would be vulnerable to corruption and would not adequately reach the impoverished masses who are the intended beneficiaries.
In Primate Ayodele’s assessment, the existence of corruption among politicians would diminish the efficacy of the palliatives, resulting in minimal impact on the people.
According to Ayodele, a minimum wage increase of ₦100,000 would be a clear indication of the government’s sincere concern for the people.
He stated, ‘If truly the government is concerned about the masses, the minimum wage should be increased to ₦100,000.’
‘It will go a long way in cushioning the effects of subsidy removal and inflation. Minimum wage increase will have a direct impact on the people than ₦8,000 palliative.’
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‘The ₦8,000 palliative is corruption, I see nothing in the palliative, and it will not reach out to the poor masses. Despite the fact that Mr President has signed it, it will not make any impact. The governors will use it for their selfish needs. The poor will not enjoy it at all.’
Ayodele pointed out that an increase in the minimum wage would directly benefit the people, leading to tangible improvements in their daily lives.
Ayodele’s comment was made in response to the Nigerian Senate’s recent approval of an $800 million loan from the World Bank.
The loan, as stated, is intended to be distributed among citizens of the country, with the aim of providing ₦8,000 to 12 million households, as a strategy to minimize the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The decision has faced substantial backlash from diverse groups and individuals across all regions of the country.