Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has criticized the N70,000 minimum wage introduced by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, arguing that any benefits gained from the wage increase would be negated by inflation.
During a live media chat over the weekend in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Governor Diri emphasized that the value of the naira should have been stabilized before setting the minimum wage at N70,000 to prevent it from being eroded by the current high inflation.
The governor also stressed the importance of dialogue as the best approach to addressing issues in the country, rather than resorting to protests or violence.
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He noted that Bayelsa has remained largely peaceful and secure due to the commitment of Bayelsans, especially the youth, to embrace the peaceful stance of his administration.
While acknowledging that protest is a constitutional right, he commended the people of Bayelsa for maintaining peace, law, and order, stating that no meaningful development can occur in an atmosphere of discord and violence.
He said: “On the new national minimum wage, my suggestion is that the value of the naira would have been stabilised before setting the minimum wage of N70,000, so that it will not be affected by the current high inflation.
“It is better to improve the value of our currency because whatever gains made by raising the minimum wage will be wiped away by inflation.
“Before August 1, l engaged with the youths, religious bodies and other stakeholders and maintained that dialogue was the best approach because we envisaged that the protest could be hijacked by persons that do not mean well for our state.
“The number one agenda of our administration is peace. There was too much of hatred in the polity. When we came on board, we first of all set out to unite our people. Today, l am happy to announce that Bayelsans are united more than ever before.”
