15th September, 2025
PRESS RELEASE:
TIME FOR FG TO REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH – MURIC
An appeal has gone to the Federal Government (FG) to redistribute
wealth throughout the country in order to eliminate the current grinding
poverty. The appeal was made by a faith-based human rights advocacy group, the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of the group on
Monday, 15th September, 2025, MURIC lamented the growing trend of extensive
poverty among the working class caused by alarmingly poor salaries amid fat and
disproportionate remuneration for the political class.
The group said further:
“There is growing restlessness among the Nigerian working class.
University lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) have threatened to go on strike. In the same vein, resident doctors have
given government notice of a strike. Similarly, hospital nurses have just
resumed from a warning strike today, Monday, 15th September, 2025.
“In the face of this gloomy socio-economic scenario, the Federal
Government (FG) is reportedly considering increment in the earnings of
politicians (https://lagostelevision.com/2025/08/19/fg-considers-pay-raise-for-political-office-holders/).
“Apart from an army of unemployed graduates, the
condition of the working class in Nigeria is pitiable. The take-home-pay of the
proletariat cannot take him home. Market prices which hit the roof more than a
year ago are now up in the skies, aiming at Jupiter. Inflation rate was 21.88
as at July 2025.
“There is widespread hunger and starvation in the country.
The North is bleeding. The South is barely surviving. Strangulated and
suffocated, the jamaahiir at the bottom of the pyramid of poverty can hardly
breathe.
“While we appreciate the ongoing economic reform launched by the FG,
we call for immediate reordering of the sharing pattern of our common patrimony.
Only an equitable and proportionate readjustment of the salaries of workers and
politicians can stem the current tide and bring about socio-economic justice.
“We also appeal to FG to reconsider its attempt to increase the
wages of politicians (https://lagostelevision.com/2025/08/19/fg-considers-pay-raise-for-political-office-holders/)
when, already, a senator allegedly earns a whooping N21 million monthly compared
to a professor’s meager monthly salary of N633,333 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/looming-crisis-in-universities-professors-earn-n633333-senators-n21-million/).
“This sad development has caused brain drain in the universities. Exempli
gratia, 239 first class lecturers left the University of Lagos (Unilag) in
the last seven years over poor pay (https://thelagosianmagazine.com.ng/239-first-class-lecturers-quit-unilag-over-poor-pay-ex-vc/).
“Medical doctors and nurses are leaving the country in
droves. At least 50 doctors leave Nigeria weekly (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/brain-drain-50-doctors-leave-nigeria-every-week-nma/).
More than 15,000 nurses left Nigeria in 2024 alone (https://punchng.com/japa-association-raises-the-alarm-as-over-15000-nurses-leave-nigeria-in-2024/).
“MURIC laments the growing trend of extensive poverty and abject
penury among the working class caused by alarmingly poor salaries amid fat,
humongous and disproportionate remuneration for the political class.
“Nigeria’s lawmakers and other public office holders are already
overpaid, overfed and overpampered. Their salaries should not be increased
further. On the contrary, it is the working class who have been overworked,
overtaxed but underpaid whose salaries should be increased, and promptly too.”
#NorthIsBleeding
#RedistributeWealth
#Politiciand Overpaid
#IncreaseWorkersWages
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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