Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, has advocated for a fresh constitution for Nigeria in a recent statement reported by INDEPENDENT. In a recent interview, Adebanjo addressed several critical matters, such as the necessity for constitutional reform and organized labor's call for a higher minimum wage.
Adebanjo expressed his dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu's reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy. He raised concerns about the government's policies and their effects on ordinary citizens, emphasizing the significant rise in living costs since Tinubu took office.
Adebanjo condemned the government's economic strategies, highlighting the increasing costs of vital goods and services. He mentioned that these issues were present before Tinubu's term but have deteriorated over time.
Adebanjo also criticized the disparity in wages between government officials and regular employees. He claimed that the government's priorities are misguided, benefiting the wealthy instead of the poor.
He also condemned the government for its poor planning and lack of support for the impoverished, questioning its dedication to addressing the public's needs. He accused the government of ignoring workers' welfare while spending extravagantly on luxuries.
"We are not dunces, they should bear with him. When he came in, how much was a bag of rice, how much is it now? Price of petroleum has gone up, electricity tariff has gone up, there is no water, the roads are bad and you are telling the people to buckle up. All these problems had been there before he got in. We must call a spade a spade. How can a reasonable person say he would give workers N62,000 monthly, when senators are earning millions of naira a month. What kind of economic policy is that? Were they not there, when he came in, and when he picked his cabinet? When you are forming a cabinet or doing other things you can afford it, but when it comes to workers’ salaries, you will say there is no money. This is a government that has no plan for poor people," he said.