By Milcah Tanimu
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has called for elected officials to earn the minimum wage, highlighting Nigeria’s severe financial crisis. Speaking at a special edition of The Platform, organized by The Covenant Nation to promote national development, Soludo emphasized the urgency of addressing the nation’s economic woes.
The event, which coincided with the celebration of Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, saw Soludo stressing the need for fiscal responsibility among government officials. He criticized the extravagant lifestyles of these officials, which contrast sharply with the country’s financial state.
“Let’s come clean and straight with Nigerians. Nigeria is very poor and broke but the lifestyle of government and government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display,” Soludo stated.
He proposed that elected officials should earn minimum wage to better understand the challenges faced by ordinary citizens, noting that he has not received a salary since taking office, opting instead to donate it to the state. “It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signaling; it is just the symbolism of this,” he added.
Soludo supported the idea presented by Reverend Father Mbaka, advocating for governors to be paid the minimum wage. This, he argued, would foster a greater connection between officials and the populace they serve. “The poor are hungry and impatient, let’s not annoy them more with our insensitivity,” he warned.
He also proposed a new code of conduct for public officeholders to enhance fiscal prudence and ensure that officials focus on their core duties. Soludo highlighted the stark reality of the country’s revenue: “For the federal government, the actual projecting revenue comes to about N6,160 per Nigerian, per month. For the states, except Lagos and a few states, most states have revenues amounting to less than N3,000 per resident, per month.”
Soludo urged public officials to be mindful of their spending, noting the direct impact it has on citizens. “For each of our wasteful spending, let’s be conscious about the fact how many citizen shares we are squandering. Once we lose this consciousness about the public trust we bear, the society dies irredeemably,” he concluded.
His remarks call for a shift towards greater fiscal responsibility and empathy from Nigeria’s leaders as the country navigates its economic challenges.