Abia North Senator Orji Kalu has announced that he will no longer use his private jet until the federal government addresses salary disparities among workers in Nigeria. The former governor of Abia State shared his decision in a video posted on Instagram and Facebook on Friday.
While it remains unclear where the statement was made, Kalu addressed the issue in response to a question from an audience member. "Honestly, I have stopped using my private jet since August 2. I want to maintain that until we sort out the salary differentials for workers in Nigeria and West Africa, especially with the rising fuel costs," he explained.
Kalu's remarks come in the wake of significant economic challenges faced by Nigerians since President Bola Tinubu ended petrol subsidies in May 2023. This policy change led to a staggering increase in petrol prices, which have surged by over 500%, exacerbating inflation and transportation costs and triggering a cost-of-living crisis.
Dissatisfied with the government's handling of these economic issues, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress initiated protests and subsequently declared an indefinite strike, demanding better welfare for workers. In response, the federal government established a committee to review the national salary structure after the expiration of the previous minimum wage of N30,000.
After months of negotiation, an agreement was reached in July for a new minimum wage of N70,000, which has since been signed into law by President Tinubu. However, workers nationwide are still awaiting the new wage, as the government committee tasked with determining the consequential adjustments has yet to finalize its report.
Despite the new law, many states, including Akwa Ibom and Delta, are still waiting for guidance on implementing the new minimum wage. Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has raised petrol prices once again, further deepening the economic crisis by increasing costs to between N950 and N1,019.
In his video statement, Kalu expressed his commitment to standing with workers, stating, "For now, I have grounded the private jet to focus on other business matters, and I will utilize commercial airlines for my travel needs."
Why I have stopped using my private jet. — Former Abia State Gov, Orji Uzor Kalu
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) September 21, 2024
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