“Nigeria is a very poor country, our wealth is just exaggerated” – Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, has caused a buzz online by asserting that Nigeria is very poor during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, February 12.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Nigeria’s economic status has been grossly exaggerated.
He emphasized that Nigeria is a “very, very poor country,” pointing out significant differences in wages when compared to countries like Kenya and South Africa.
During the interview, Onanuga drew a comparison between Nigeria’s minimum wage and that of South Africa.
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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