Outspoken and charismatic Catholic priest, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, has criticized the Federal Government’s proposal for a new national minimum wage of ₦62,000, suggesting that Governors, Senators, and members of the House of Representatives should also receive the same amount as civil servants.
During a sermon at the Adoration Ministry Enugu (AMEN) on Sunday, Mbaka expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the minimum wage crisis, warning that it could lead to serious consequences if not properly addressed.
“If we decide to give labour ₦60,000 or ₦62,000, why not generalize it to the House of Assembly members, senatorial members, House of Representative members, and governors?” Mbaka questioned. He criticized the substantial allowances allocated to lawmakers while ordinary Nigerians endure significant hardship.
“They are all civil servants, so are the others slaves? I can’t understand why they are amassing billions as sitting allowance, wardrobe allowance, newspaper allowance, and suffering allowance,” Mbaka remarked, highlighting the disparity between the earnings of lawmakers and the struggles of average citizens.
Mbaka emphasized that the real beneficiaries of such allowances should be those suffering in rural areas. “The people that should have such allowances are those suffering in the village,” he stated.
He further underscored the plight of essential workers, asking, “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?”
Addressing the broader economic context, Mbaka pointed to the high levels of inflation, arguing that the country lacks sincerity in addressing these issues. “Looking at the level of inflation in the country, you will see that we are all not sincere in this country,” he said.
Concluding his sermon, Mbaka urged the government to act swiftly and carefully. “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,” he warned.
