The senator representing Bayelsa-East
senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce, says
over N18, 000 is spent on the upkeep of
dogs in the various government houses
across the country.
He, therefore, stated that it was wicked
for governors to advocate for a reduction
of the N18, 000 minimum wage.
The lawmaker said this in a series of
tweets on his official Twitter handle on
Monday.
Murray-Bruce said it made no sense for a
National Youth Service Corps member to
receive about N20, 000 a month while
civil servants, including family men, were
denied of the N18, 000 minimum wage.
He said with the high rate of inflation in
the country, it would make no sense to
reduce wages.
He tweeted, “I know for the fact that
even dogs at Government House cost
more than N18,000 to take care of in a
month. How much more a human being?
“It is unjust for a government to
contemplate reducing workers’ pay of
N18,000. What can that amount buy in
today’s Nigeria?
“A worker with a family earns less than a
member of the NYSC who earns 19,800.
Reducing his pay is unconscionable. A
man earning N18,000 struggles to pay
rent, feed his family and pay school fees.
To reduce his pay is to punish his family.
“In the last four years, the cost of food
and fuel has gone up. Can we, in good
faith, make a case for the reduction of
workers’ pay?”
The senator said that reducing the
minimum wage would increase the rate of
corruption as workers would indulge in
sharp practices to augment their income.
He said it was hypocritical of governors to
spend over N18, 000 per meal and ask
civil servants to receive less than N18,000
a month.
He added, “If the government doesn’t
pay workers well, it invites workers to
steal. To end corruption, we must pay
workers well.
“You cannot be spending more than
N18,000 per meal and claim that the man
who earns N18,000 per month is
overpaid.”
