Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has thrown his weight behind the call for elected officials to start earning minimum wage instead of the bogus allowances, citing the financial crisis facing the country as a reality. Soludo made this call yesterday during a special edition of The Platform, organized by The Covenant Nation to promote national development, stressing that Nigeria is currently under financially stress that requires urgent reform.
He explained that the extravagant lifestyle of government officials in Nigeria’s is what is putting much pressure on the economy which is sustained at the expense of the nation’s wealth.
The professor of Economics proposed that, to save the economy from total collapse; these officials should be paid the minimum wage to understand the harsh realities faced by ordinary citizens, stressing that the current system is in a state of denial about the nation’s financial condition.
According to the former CBN governor, “Let’s come clean and straight with Nigerians. Nigeria is very poor and broke but the lifestyle of government and government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display,” Soludo said.
“The poor are hungry and impatient; let’s not annoy them more with our insensitivity.
“In this case, I agree with the reverend father Mbaka, who said elected governors should also earn minimum wage. I agree that we should be paid so that we can feel that as well.
“In Anambra, I have not received a kobo as salary since I assumed office. I have donated my salary to the state.
“It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signalling, it is just the symbolism of this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the governor has called for a new code of conduct for public office holders to enhance fiscal prudence while performing the core duties for which they were elected.
