… Questions N100,000 salary amid rising cost of living

… Demands better healthcare, wages and transportation

…Says Nigerians can use their votes to change the narrative

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, former member of the House of Representatives and NDC Senatorial Candidate for Lagos West, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador, has challenged Nigerians to hold political leaders accountable for the country’s worsening economic hardship, declaring that successive governments have failed to adequately address the challenges confronting ordinary citizens.

Salvador made the call in an interview with a Lens Africa TV correspondent, where he examined the state of the nation and the living conditions of Nigerians amid rising costs of transportation, food, healthcare and other basic necessities.

The former lawmaker said the Independence Anniversary should not only be a period of celebration but also an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey, assess the performance of successive governments and demand accountability from those entrusted with political power.

Salvador questioned how Nigerians earning about N100,000 monthly could realistically cope with the current economic situation, particularly with the rising cost of transportation and other essential services.

According to him, a significant portion of the average worker’s income is now consumed by transportation, leaving little for food, housing, education, healthcare and other household needs.

He argued that the true measure of economic progress should be the quality of life of ordinary citizens, rather than government statistics or economic indices that may not fully reflect the realities confronting Nigerian families.

Illustrating his point with an analogy, Salvador said Nigerians should be prepared to confront the reality of their circumstances rather than merely celebrate survival.

“A man that lives with kwashiorkor will always praise God that he is still alive. But when he is living in the midst of plenty and yet having kwashiorkor, then we have to look at him and tell the man the truth about life,” he said.

Salvador, who was also a delegate to the National Political Reform Conference, maintained that Nigeria is endowed with enormous human and natural resources capable of supporting a prosperous nation.

However, he expressed concern that the benefits of these resources have not translated sufficiently into improved living conditions for the majority of Nigerians.

He particularly raised concerns about access to functional and affordable healthcare, stressing that citizens should not be forced into financial hardship before they can obtain necessary medical treatment.

The Lagos West senatorial candidate also called for improved wages and better working conditions, arguing that workers’ salaries should reflect the realities of the current economy.

He said governments at all levels must prioritise policies that directly improve the welfare of citizens, including affordable healthcare, efficient transportation, employment opportunities, infrastructure development and sustainable economic.

Salvador further urged Nigerians to become more active in the democratic process, insisting that political leaders must be assessed based on their performance and the tangible impact of their policies on the people.

He said citizens have the power to influence the direction of governance through their votes, urging them to carefully consider the records, competence and programmes of candidates seeking their mandate.

The NDC Senatorial Candidate for Lagos West said that if Nigerians give him the opportunity to represent them, he would work to change the narrative and push for policies aimed at improving the welfare and economic security of the people.

He stressed that political leadership should go beyond campaign promises and rhetoric, insisting that elected officials must be prepared to account for their stewardship, the management of public resources and the promises made to the electorate.

According to him, the current economic hardship should encourage Nigerians to demand a new approach to governance and insist on leadership that puts the interests of ordinary citizens at the centre of policymaking.

He said the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary should therefore serve as a moment of sober reflection, renewed civic responsibility and a demand for responsible leadership.

Salvador maintained that Nigeria’s enormous potential can only be fully realised when governance is centred on the welfare, dignity and economic security of its citizens.

“Independence should mean more than freedom from colonial rule; it should also translate into a better quality of life, dignity and opportunity for the Nigerian people,” Salvador stressed.