Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has called for governors and other elected officials to earn minimum wage to align with the harsh economic realities faced by Nigerian workers. Speaking at The Platform, an event organized by The Covenant Nation to promote national development, Soludo highlighted the disparity between the luxurious lifestyles of government officials and the financial struggles of the nation.
“Nigeria is very poor and broke, but the lifestyle of government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display,” Soludo said. He emphasized that the economic woes of Nigeria are exacerbated by the extravagant lifestyles of its leaders, which are maintained at the nation’s expense.
The governor agreed with Reverend Father Mbaka’s assertion that elected officials should be paid minimum wage to experience the economic hardships of the average Nigerian worker. Soludo revealed that he has not received any salary since assuming office, choosing instead to donate it to the state. “It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signaling, it is just the symbolism of this,” he added.
Soludo urged his fellow governors and elected officials to cut wasteful spending, pointing out the minimal revenue available per citizen. “For the federal government, the actual projected revenue comes to about N6,160 per Nigerian, per month. For the states, except Lagos and a few others, most states have revenues amounting to less than N3,000 per resident, per month,” he explained.
He stressed the importance of being mindful of public trust and the impact of wasteful spending on the citizens. “Once we lose this consciousness about the public trust we bear, the society dies irredeemably,” Soludo concluded.
