In my country Nigeria 🇳🇬, the conversation should not be on the current minimum wage recently declared and increased now to = N= 77,000.00 by the present government, but of what benefit can this increment be to those who are caught up in a country with such high cost 💲 of living.
And its not just announcing and declaring the new minimum wage, but the implementing which can take months to happen because the government will only announce but the other bodies like organizations, industries , factories will need to review their budgeting as to know how the new staffs funds will be incorporated .
And even with the new wages in place and when ever it takes off, it’s never going to bring any relief to the masses who are currently under so much stress and facing all kinds of mental health because this new wage will never elevate anyone. The problem being that the high cost of gas has affected everything and has continue to put many citizens under so much struggle.
The issue here is how the =N= 77,000.00 can not be enough to cover transportation in a month depending where your work place is situated. Here in Nigeria 🇳🇬, cost 💲 of transportation tripped after the fuel increment, and recently, fuel has been increased again because of the war around the world 🌎. With all these, its the poor that are still suffering, bearing the consequences.
Many who even had better paid jobs are still caught up in it , because its either you are spending the salary on gas, high cost of food, electricity bills 💸, accommodation rent depending where you live, and in all, pray not to be sick 🤕to avoid private hospital bills since the government hospitals procedures are not quick and prompt.
The high cost 💲 of living through the years of inflation is the origination of why everyone is facing hardship. The apartment owners who believes that properties appreciates are using the masses to earn more money from their apartment. The landlords are not caring since they also spend the money on other things, especially medicals as many are retired , only hoping on what they built as source of income.
So it seemed a situation without hope even with the minimum wage being doubled since it can not improve the cost of living of those who are categorized under it. And unless, if the economy is improved by gas being reversed, cost 💲 on rent being regulated by the government, cost of food put in check for even the poor to feed properly, the citizens then will be relieved of this burden of struggle.
🧡Images are mine.
