Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, stated that it is scandalous and deceptive to describe N18,000 as a living minimum wage.
In an interview with ThisDay, the governor maintained that it is nearly impossible to survive on N18,000 for an entire month.
He reiterated that he took the step to increase the minimum wage in the state from N30,000 to N40,000 in 2022.
He hinted that although N70,000 is still not sufficient, it will go a long way in helping the earner live a better life.
In his words, “First, let me say it is scandalous that we continue to deceive ourselves that N18,000 minimum wage is a living wage, but we all know that by no means can anybody live on N18,000 today, which is why I took the step in my state to increase the minimum wage first from N30,000 to N40,000 in 2022.
” Having made all these efforts, even if they are laudable, it is still clear that even the N40,000 is still a far cry from what an average person or family needs to survive.
“So, it is only sensible to take it up again to N70,000. Even the N70,000, I daresay, is not going to do too much but at least people can begin to make an effort to live with that amount.”
