Nigerians will get a ‘survival wage’ – Abbas
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has said Nigerians will get a ‘survival wage’ that could take them home.
He stated this at a National Policy Dialogue on corruption, social norms and behavioural change in Nigeria, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, and support from the MacArthur Foundation, held at the ICPC’s headquarters in Abuja.
His statement follows the ongoing review of the minimum wage by federal lawmakers. Busayo Oluwole-Oke, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency represented Abbas at the occasion. He said: “We must acknowledge that there are other factors that influence the attitude or action of citizens to indulge in corruption. For instance, the question around a survival wage system is a big factor. A situation where take-home home pay of a large segment of the population is unable to take them home is a recipe for all manner of corruption.
“This is why the House of Representatives is particularly interested in the ongoing review of minimum wage in the country. The House this time around will ensure that Nigerians get a survival wage that could take them home”.
Abbas went on to say that corruption had prevented the nation from realizing its full potential and listed numerous factors that have fueled corruption there.
He said: “Corruption in Nigeria has been fuelled by various factors, including weak governance structures, lack of transparency and accountability, poverty, and cultural acceptance of corrupt practices.
“While we have laws, policies and institutions to tackle corruption, it is my considered opinion that corruption continues to fester owing to prevailing societal attitudes towards wealth, fame, power and success regardless of how they are obtained.
“It follows, therefore, that addressing corruption requires not only legal and institutional reforms but also a transformation of social norms and behaviours. Social norms refer to the unwritten rules and expectations that guide individuals’ behaviour within a society or a particular group.
“In many cases, corrupt practices have become normalized within Nigerian society, making it challenging to eradicate them solely through legal means. Therefore, understanding and changing social norms becomes crucial to combatting corruption effectively”.
