President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has stated that the current levels of poverty in Nigeria are deeply rooted in the country’s history, dating back to the pre-Independence era.
Fasua made these comments on Tuesday, April 8, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show, where he also acknowledged the ongoing surge in hunger across the nation.
Fasua pointed out that poverty in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon, but rather an inherited issue that has persisted for generations. He noted that while poverty is a global issue, Nigeria’s unique historical context has made it particularly difficult to address.
“We inherited a problem in this country right from Independence, even pre-Independence, people have always struggled with poverty,” Fasua said, adding that tackling poverty is a complex issue that requires more than just importing foreign solutions.
Fasua further discussed the issue of hunger, acknowledging that the surge in food insecurity is a pressing concern.
However, he was quick to clarify that the broader context of Nigeria’s economic challenges should not be reduced solely to hunger, which, he argued, does not define the country.
“I agree that there is hunger, but those things don’t define Nigeria,” Fasua remarked.
A significant portion of the discussion centred around Nigeria’s minimum wage law, which Fasua said has been violated in some instances.
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According to him, it is illegal to pay full-time workers less than N70,000 monthly.
“I have met people who said they are still being paid N40,000 for a full-time job. In fact, it is against the law because there is a law that says you can’t pay someone in full employment less than N70,000,” he stated.
Fasua pointed out that paying such low wages is in violation of the new minimum wage law, which he noted has been introduced to help combat rising inflation and poverty levels.
Fasua explained that part of the government’s strategy to mitigate inflation and poverty has been the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, with some states taking it further by setting the wage at N75,000 or N80,000.
However, he also highlighted that only 16 states had fully implemented the new wage as of the latest reports.
“We can’t expect people to continue to survive on the same salaries they were earning two years ago, while inflation in some critical goods like food has gone up by 200 percent,” he added.
The presidential aide emphasised the need for Nigeria to develop its own frameworks for addressing poverty, suggesting that the global standard of using a $2-per-day poverty line may not be the most accurate measure for the country’s unique challenges.
He argued that Nigeria’s people, culture, and economic realities require more tailored solutions.
“When we are talking about poverty, I said perhaps we need our own indices beyond the two dollars a day recommended. And the fact that they are recommended does not mean that we should take it hook, line, and sinker because we know our country, people, and culture more than the people recommending,” Fasua explained.
