by Eyo Emmanuel
States are still struggling to pay the 30,000 naira minimum wage with some states finding it difficult to pay workers salaries on time.
However the Federal Executive Council has approved the increase of VAT (Value Added Tax). Talk about listing your priorities. The council claims that the reason for the tax increase is for the states and local governments to be able to add to their revenue in order to meet the obligations of minimum wage.
Who knew an increase in minimum wage meant it was going to be paid out of our pockets. Isn’t it hilarious that the government passes policies and some how invent ways of collecting the money from us.
It’s like all of us in this nation are in one large osusu group where we all contribute money through the guise of various taxes with those in power playing the role of thrift collectors. Unfortunately unlike osusu no one gets their turn at reaping the bulk of the money. The money only goes to the government’s pocket. If at the end of this ‘needed’ increase, minimum wage is still not paid across all states. What is now going to be the alternative, an extra increase?