Senate President Godswill Akpabio blamed the planned nationwide protest against the rising cost of living on politicians who lost the 2023 elections on Monday, alleging that they are intent on coming to power through the back door.
He made the assertion at the Presidential Villa Abuja shortly after the signing into law of the new national minimum wage bill by President Bola Tinubu during this week’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Stressing the need for those behind the protest to abandon it, he appealed to the nation’s youth to not allow themselves to be used to destroy the country as he highlighted the efforts of both the Executive and the Legislature to lessen hardship in the country.
The Senate President stated in a chat with correspondents, “I’m ecstatic. I’m excited about the Nigerian worker, and the national minimum wage amendment is for the whole nation: the federal government, the states, the local governments, the private sector, and even individual employers.
“So, I think this is a great day for the workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage; we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000; now it is N70,000.
“Like I said, this is the minimum; this is not the maximum. Any employer that has the capacity can pay you as much as you want. But no Nigerian worker will offer services and be paid anything less than $70,000 today. That is the implication of this act. It applies all over the nation.
“And we are excited that this is happening at a time like this through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a man who cares for the Nigerian workers. And you’ve seen what we are doing in the National Assembly.
“When it came, the entirety of the National Assembly moved and passed the bill in one day out of excitement. We felt that this was not something we could delay. So, I think the workers are happy.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to call on those who are attempting to foment trouble that you have a right to protest. It is your fundamental right. It is in the constitution. But you don’t have a right to destabilise the country.
“The right to protest should not be turned into the right to unleash violence. It’s very clear that the people behind this are very amorphous and very faceless. So, what it means is that people are preparing to loot and go round and round and do all sorts of things.
“Where we are today was not caused by one year’s administration. It is the outcome of years of insecurity. Many people could not go to farms for almost 10 years and knew that, and the President has risen to the occasion.
“Every food item that is coming in now will come in without anything like a restaurant solution. There are no restrictions; bring in food because Nigerians need to eat. And then, at the same time, most things are coming in with a lot of waivers.
“So, for me, I’m excited that yes, indeed, the government is doing what it should. And we, the leaders in the National Assembly, are touching our various constituencies.
“So, my appeal to the Nigerian youth is to not allow any group to mislead you politically.
“People who probably do not have their fortunes in the 2023 election are thinking they can come through the back door, and that will amount to anarchy.
“Any destruction of any property will cost Nigeria money. We don’t have the money. Instead, let’s put the money into developing you and your environment instead of going to rebuild.
“So, kudos to the Nigerian workers. And I’m excited, and I congratulate Nigeria. I congratulate the president and the National Assembly for the expeditious passage of this bill.”
Also speaking, House of Representatives Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, praised President Tinubu for his action, which he said suggested that he cared for the people.
“This is an action from the President to show that he cares about the Nigerian people. In addition to signing the North East Development Commission, the North West Development Commission, and the South East Development Commission, this has never happened in Nigeria.
“So, I think this movement from N30,000 to N70,000 and reducing the negotiation from five to three years is a clear demonstration of a commitment to redirect, refocus, and reposition Nigeria for greatness,” the House Leader stressed.
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