A member of the House of Representatives, George Ozodinobi, has voiced strong concerns over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
Addressing the plenary session on Wednesday (yesterday, October 16), Ozodinobi, who represents Njikoka and Ochadunokofia federal constituency in Anambra State, criticized the current N70,000 minimum wage, stating that it is insufficient to meet the basic needs of civil servants.
Highlighting the severe impact of the recent hike in petrol prices, Ozodinobi remarked that life has become increasingly difficult for Nigerians over the past week.
He stated, “I want to draw our collective attention to the fact that the Federal Government recently approved a minimum wage of N70,000 per month, but just a week or two later, fuel prices have surged. Speaking from personal experience, the situation has become untenable.”
Sharing an example from his own household, Ozodinobi explained that his driver, who previously received N3,000 per day for transport, has now requested N6,000 just to cover the increased costs.
“This is just one example of how the rising costs are placing immense pressure on everyone,” he noted. “Our constituents are struggling to transport their produce from the farm to the market, and the situation is unsustainable.”
The lawmaker also emphasized that the recently approved minimum wage is grossly inadequate for any civil servant trying to support a family.
“Given the soaring prices of basic goods and food items, N70,000 can’t even last a civil servant and their family for more than three days,” he said. “The cost of food in this country is rising at an alarming rate, and the policies in place are failing to address these challenges.”
