The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to avoid politicizing the ongoing discussions about the national minimum wage.
Instead, Primate Ayodele emphasized the critical need for effective price control measures to alleviate the persistent economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
In a statement released by his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Primate Ayodele highlighted that increasing the minimum wage without addressing the rampant inflation and high commodity prices would render the wage hike ineffective.
He pointed out that the hardships experienced by workers would continue unless the government implemented strict price control mechanisms.
“Tinubu must not play with the worker’s minimum wage. Their initial request was too much but they have come down to a reasonable level now, and I want to advise President Tinubu not to play politics with it by trying to divide them,” Ayodele stated.
“However, let there be price control because without it, minimum wage is zero no matter the amount.”
The organized labour unions in Nigeria have been steadfast in their demand for a minimum wage of N250,000.
However, the Federal Government has countered with a proposal of N62,000, a figure that state governors have argued is unsustainable given their current financial constraints.
The prophet’s message reflects a growing sentiment among Nigerians that the government must address the root causes of economic hardship rather than merely offering temporary relief through wage increases. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how President Tinubu and his administration will respond to these calls for comprehensive economic reforms.