“This Is the Beginning of Corruption”: APC Chieftain Reacts As 3 Governors Announce New Minimum Wage

• APC chieftain, ESV Podar Johnson, has called on the 36 state governors in Nigeria to have a uniform minimum wage for workers but a different salary structure
• Comrade Johnson made this call after Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and two other state governors increased their workers' salaries to reflect Nigeria's current economic reality
• In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, the APC chieftain claimed that disparity in wages aids corruption and hinders economic growth

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

ESV Podar Johnson, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for uniformity in Nigeria's minimum wage.

Edo, 2 other states announce new minimum wage

According to him, different salary structures promote unhealthy competition in the workplace and affect the growth and development of the economy.

Read also

High electricity tariffs: Labour unveils demand as protests start across Nigeria

Recall that the two primary labour organisations, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), presented a proposal of N615,000 minimum wage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's led government.

But in a swift move, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state announced a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the south-south state on Monday, April 29.

Two Nigerian state governors also responded to workers’ demands and increased their salaries.

Podar Johnson calls for unilateral minimum wage

Speaking exclusively to Legit.ng via telephone chat, on Sunday, May 5, the former governorship aspirant in Plateau state, Podar Johnson, insisted there should be uniformity of workers' salary across the three tiers of government.

Buttressing his point, the APC chieftain urged Nigerian governors to encourage wage equality, noting, "salary discrimination is the beginning of corruption in our country."

Read also

Shehu Sani reacts as 2 Nigerian govs approve increment of minimum wage, “who is next?”

Johnson said:

"Salary increases should have been a national issue cut across the three tiers of government. Honestly, salary discrimination is the beginning of corruption in our country.

"There should be a uniform salary structure that will encourage competition; come to think of it, as a Nigerian, you are contributing your quota to the growth of the economy, but the most disappointing issue is that you are at the same level but have different salaries.

"If I'm to advise, we should have the same salary structure but different allowances base on the services that one rendered. Imagine staying in the same area, paying the same transport to work and paying the same house rent, only to be paid a meagre salary; that, on its own discourages dignity to labour, because of discrimination.

"No wonder, the younger generation now choose the course to read base on the salary structure, that's why our education is failing on daily basis, we should go back to sixties, it might bring back our loss glory."

Read also

Minimum Wages: 36 governors react to NLC N615K demand

NLC speaks on payment of N615,000 minimum wage

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, insisted that the the living wage for workers should be N615,000.

The president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, made this disclosure during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, May 1. He added that the last minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18.

Source: Legit.ng