The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume who was removed by his colleagues on Wednesday for criticising President Bola Tinubu has hit back again declaring that the new N70,000 minimum wage approved by President for Nigerian workers can only buy 50 kilogramme of rice, which cannot sustain a household.
Penpushing reports that Ndume who earlier declared that he maintained his earlier criticism against the President, that he (Tinubu) has not been allowed by some cabals to have access to the needs of citizens, however, asked Tinubu to review the minimum wage upwards to show solidarity with Nigerians.
“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 said.
The outspoken Borno South Senator and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was speaking on a viral video, emphasized that he was not perturbe over his removal, adding that he was not elected as Senate Chief Whip when he contested for election
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that the President and the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as well as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) met on Wednesday at the State House and agreed on the new minimum wage.
The labour leaders headed by President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo have since accepted the new wage, while it is recalled that while the government reviewed its offer from N62,000 to N70,000, the unions, brought their demand down from N250,000, which they had earlier proposed at the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on New Minimum Wage.
Penpushing also reports that the removal of Ndume as Chief Whip followed recommendation letter from National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje, and Basiru Ajibola, the party’s national secretary.
Meanwhile, the frankly speaking Senator while responding to the recommendation and subsequent removal as principal officer of the Senate reiterated that many Nigerians are angry because of the harsh economy.
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