By Stephen Obidike
Africa is a richly endowed continent. No Nation in Africa should be complaining of poverty in any form, but the reality is different. The common denominator is bad leadership. While our leaders, politicians and the elite are busy stealing the resources of the continent and taking it mostly to foreign lands, they make deals allowing their foreign cronies to come take some pieces of the pie meant for their people and unborn generation. I wonder who steals from the future generation? Our leaders do.
Kenya is a point in question. Kenya has been going through one of the worst demonstrations with loss of lives and property in the past few weeks all because what they correctly perceive as abysmal management of the nation’s resources. With the country’s President, William Ruto, receiving about Ksh1433750 gross salary monthly and his Deputy on Ksh1438500/month, the youth were incensed that the president wants to put more tax on common items like Bread etc while keeping their salaries and other benefits.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian labour Congress is on an impasse with the Federal Government regarding the minimum wage. Just to put it in context, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima and the Judiciary, recently got a 114% increase in their basic salary. The Presidents basic salary rose from N3,514,705 to N8,013,527; adding the allowances and bonuses brings our president as one of the best paid presidents in the world. This applies to most African presidents and leaders.
Although shrouded in mystery, the basic salary of the Nigerian Senate is N2,483,242/month while the Deputy Senate President earns N2,309,166/month. Adding their allowances and bonuses, their take home is a few tens of millions of Naira.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is asking for just a paltry N250,000 .00 which the Nigerian Government said they cannot pay but are happy to pay N62, 000/month. With current cost of items and inflation in the country, this can barely take anyone home. This figure to all intents and purposes will not be enough to provide for an average Nigeria in the current economic climate in the country. The debate and consultations are still on going with some lawmakers muting that NLCs demand will crash the economy of the nation.
As ridiculous as this may sound, let’s look at a very simple solution that may help assuage the situation and keep everyone happy. The President, Vice President, Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives, Governors, House of Assembly members, commissioners and all civil service workers are all civil servants. If we collapse the salary structure of everyone and make it one such that we have four tiers of salary structure. One for federal civil servants, one for state civil servants, one for Local Government civil servants, one for the private sector workers such that each sector goes on same scale with same minimum wage. With this, each level can determine a suitable minimum wage they can pay. With this everyone is getting same treatment thus creating a very level playing field in each tier and we can be rest assured that everyone especially those in non-elected position will be happy with what they get. People seeking elective office will now know that they are going there to serve and not to make huge amounts of money. The big question will be, will those in power agree to this.
Dr Stephen Obidike is an Emergency Physician and Social Activist writing from the UK.
