A former Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has condemned the ₦70,000 new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Recall that the lawmaker was recently relieved of his position as the Chief Whip over his comments against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu and the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress alongside the Trade Union Congress met on Wednesday at the State House and agreed on the new ₦70, 000 minimum wage.
Speaking on the new wage Ndume noted that it could only buy a 50kg bag of rice which averagely sells above ₦70,000
He subsequently urged Tinubu to review the minimum wage upwards.
Ndume stated this via a viral video posted by Channels Television on Friday.
He said, “People are suffering, people are angry, people are not happy. I am happy that yesterday, 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 was sacked as a Senate principal officer following a letter from the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s national secretary, Basiru Ajibola.
In the letter, the APC leaders referenced an interview Ndume granted where he criticised the Tinubu administration and subsequently recommended that the Senate relieve him of his position.