Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, has stirred online discussions by stating on Arise TV that Nigeria is extremely poor. He argued that the country's economic status has been significantly exaggerated, pointing out wage disparities with countries like Kenya and South Africa.
Bayo Onanuga.He noted that South Africa’s minimum wage is approximately $240 per month.
However, he emphasized that Nigeria’s minimum wage, currently set at N30,000 per month, roughly translates to $39.
Bayo Onanuga went on highlight the wage disparities between Nigeria and South Africa, particularly citing the earnings of high-ranking officials.
He pointed out that even the Chief Justice of South Africa earns significantly more than their Nigerian counterpart, estimating that it could be up to 20 times higher when converted to the prevailing exchange rates.
‘’Our country is a very very poor country. very very poor country. We have the wrong impression about the wealth of our country. It is exaggerated. If you start from minimum wage, when you compare our country to a country like Kenya, South Africa.
South Africa’s minimum wage is about $240 a month but in Nigeria, its N30, 000 a month which is just about $39. Look at the gap and this has reflected in other wages.
If you look at what the Chief Justice of South Africa earns, at the rate of dollar now, it must be about 20 or times more than what Nigeria’s Chief Justice earns,” Bayo Onanuga said during the interview.
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