Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has slammed the ₦70,000 new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Ndume, who was recently removed from his position, pointed out that ₦70,000 is barely enough to buy a 50kg bag of rice.
Ndume’s comments were made in a viral video where he urged President Bola Tinubu to further increase the minimum wage, highlighting the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
He stated, “People are suffering, people are angry, people are not happy…realistically, that is like money that will buy a bag of rice.”
Ndume’s dismissal from his Senate role, followed an interview where he criticised the Tinubu administration.
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The 64-year-old who represents Borno North in the Senate while defending his statement said: “I did not say anything wrong, and, therefore, I want to state that I stand by all my statements in the interview I granted.
“So, I know that I’m not wrong. The people are not wrong by speaking the truth and standing by the truth.
“And I pray that the president who by now, I expect the message should have gotten to him, looks at what I have said and takes appropriate measures to eliminate the suffering of the people.”