N70k minimum wage can only buy a bag of rice —Ndume

The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has faulted the recently agreed minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, saying the amount can only buy a bag of rice in the present economy.

Ndume who got into trouble after he criticized President Bola Tinubu which led to his removal as Chief Whip of the Senate, made the assertion during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, insisting that despite being removed by his colleagues, he would not stop pointing out flaws in the government in the interest of the people.

“People are suffering, people are angry, people are not happy. I am happy that the president agreed with NLC to increase the salary to N70,000, which is a good move, but it takes more than that because, realistically, that is like a bag of rice, money that will buy a bag of rice or cover the cost of a bag of rice.

“So, I call on the president to still open up and listen to the people,” Ndume said.

READ ALSO:NLC gives reasons for accepting Tinubu’s N70K minimum wage offer

The Borno lawmaker also described his action of criticising the government as patriotic, and advised President Tinubu to listen to the cries of Nigerians and immediately address the concerned areas.

“I insist it is unpatriotic to stand by the president in whichever or whatever he does. It is patriotic to speak the truth not only to the president but also to anybody, for that matter.

“It is unpatriotic not to speak the truth to power or anybody and I still stand by that. In doing so, it is also known that God is always with the person that speaks the truth.

“So, I know that I am not wrong. The people are not wrong by speaking the truth and standing by the truth, and I pray that the president, who is now, I expect that the message has gotten to him, to look at what I have said and take appropriate measures to eliminate the sufferings of the people,” he stated.

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