Raising the minimum wage makes no economic sense, the Primate of Nigeria said last week, telling reporters that a government mandated hike in wages would see young people and those on the margins of society forced out of the workforce. 

Raising the minimum wage makes no economic sense, the Primate of Nigeria said last week, telling reporters that a government mandated hike in wages would see young people and those on the margins of society forced out of the workforce. Speaking to the press last weekend, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh said government’s priority should be building the country’s infrastructure, not distorting the labour market. His remarks came after labour unions announced they would ask the Federal government to raise the minimum waged from N18,000 to N56,000. “If we can try and manage what we have until the present economic crisis is over or until the time comes when we say we are out of the woods then we can talk about salary increase. If we talk about salary now and we cannot pay even the minimum wage of N18,000 then our problem will increase,” he was reported as saying. “The government should help in providing facilities such as transport that can make life better instead of asking for increase in salaries. Increase in salaries in the past had not solved all our problems; I will not support the demand for N56,000 at this time of economic and security crisis ,” the archbishop said according to wire service reports.