Hasten implementation of minimum wage, PFN tells Tinubu

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to hasten the implementation of the minimum wage signed by the government. PFN through its National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, admonished the Federal Government to roll out the system by which it will be implemented, adding that Nigerians have found themselves in a situation where everything has gone up, including prices of petroleum products, transportation and food items.

Addressing journalists yesterday after PFN’s National Advisory Council (NAC) meeting at PFN national secretariat in Lagos, Oke urged FG to make the refineries work.

Condemning the idea of importing fuel into the country, Oke urged Nigerians to support Aliko Dangote’s intervention in the country. He said: “Beyond the minimum wage issue, let Nigerian refineries work…let Dangote’s intervention survive, he only wants to use his wealth to help Nigerians. We shouldn’t frustrate him. All hands should be on deck to bring down the prices of petroleum products because not only transport cost will go down, so many other things will go down and life will be easier for Nigerians.”

Speaking further, the PFN president task the FG to revisit the moribund ajaokuta steel complex. He said that Nigeria ought to have gone beyond the situation where the country is still importing spoon, and plate, among others, while ajaokuta steel complex is there. Oke said: “If we make ajaokuta steel complex to work, it will affect the economy in a positive manner.” He also wants the FG government to create jobs for the restive youths, reminding the government that last protest was a wake up call for them to do something good for Nigerians, especially the youths.

“For the restive youths, the FG government should create jobs for them, if for example, the FG government creates a system where by cottage industries can be established in all the 774 local governments areas that can employ 500 to 1000 people that will take off unemployment lists and they will be productive.” Other areas the Christian body wants the FG government to do something include to build up value of the naira. According to the national president, “FG government should build up the value of the naira. I can never imagine that in my life time 1000 dollars will be buying over N1.5m. I can’t reconcile myself to it. I have lived in a time when the Naira is almost equivalent to 2 dollars.

I have lived in a time when naira was at par with the pound sterling. We are now getting to a time that 1 dollar will buy over N1500 the government should do something. When we devalue our money, we devalue our lives. The recent protest is a wake up call for government to fo something to assuage the pains of Nigerians so that our youths will stop drifting to any county.” Finally, he urged Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu led administration, saying we know that Nigerians are going through economic hardship and struggles, we are part of the grassroots, we feel the pains and we are working and praying…it will not last for too long.”