On Wednesday, the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, called for governors and other elected officials to earn minimum wage as a reflection of Nigeria's economic challenges. Speaking at The Platform, an event hosted by The Covenant Nation to foster national development, Soludo emphasized the need for public officials to align their lifestyles with the country's financial hardships.
Soludo criticized the extravagant lifestyles of many government officials, highlighting the disconnect between their opulence and the nation's economic struggles. "Nigeria is very poor and broke, but the lifestyle of government officials does not show it," he remarked, pointing to the lavish public displays that starkly contrast with the country's financial crisis.
He echoed sentiments previously expressed by Reverend Father Mbaka, advocating that elected governors should earn minimum wage to truly understand the plight of the average Nigerian. Soludo revealed that he has not taken a salary since assuming office in Anambra, opting instead to donate his earnings to the state as a symbolic gesture against the systemic denial of Nigeria's economic realities.
The governor urged his peers to curtail wasteful expenditures, noting the minimal revenue generated per citizen. He called for a new code of conduct for public officers to promote fiscal responsibility, stating that the federal government's projected revenue translates to approximately N6,160 per Nigerian per month, with most states generating less than N3,000 per resident monthly.
Soludo stressed the importance of mindful governance, warning that the continued disregard for public trust could lead to irreparable societal decline.
