Catholic Priest of the Enugu Diocese and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, wants the Nigerian Government to urgently and tactfully handle the issue of the new minimum wage, to prevent what he says is a potential crisis escalation, with unforeseen consequences.
Fr. Mbaka who spoke to Journalists in Enugu, Saturday during an interview session on the current state of the Nigerian Nation , expressed discontent with the Federal Government’s proposed N62,000 new minimum wage.
The Catholic Priest who made News headlines in the past over some controversial comments on Nigeria’s politics, described the N62,000 Government offer at the ongoing minimum wage Tripartite Committee negotiations, as unacceptable, given the country’s economic realities.
Mbaka is advocating for parity, suggesting that if the government implements the N62,000 minimum wage, the same standard should apply to all political office holders.
Fr. Mbaka is also worried over the level of hunger and poverty in the land, warning of dire implications of a possible social implosion.
While disclosing his personal efforts and initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty among the people, he is pleading with governments at all levels, and privileged individuals in the country to act swiftly to support poor masses.
He cautioned that a time is coming if nothing proactive is done, when the impoverished citizens may no longer listen to anyone, raising the alarm that, at that point, things could fall apart.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
