News
Kenneth Okonkwo Claims N30,000 Minimum Wage Was More Valuable Than Current N70,000
Kenneth Okonkwo, the well-known Nollywood actor and politician, has argued that the previous minimum wage of N30,000 was more valuable than the current N70,000 benchmark.
Okonkwo expressed his views during an appearance on the ‘Mic On’ podcast, highlighting his concerns about the real value of wages in the face of significant economic changes.
Fire9ja reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recently approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 after reaching an agreement with labor unions.
According to Okonkwo, the value of the previous N30,000 minimum wage has depreciated compared to the new N70,000 wage.
He explained that when the N30,000 wage was in place, the exchange rate was approximately N500 to one US dollar.
However, with the current exchange rate soaring to N1,500 to one dollar, the real value of the new N70,000 minimum wage has diminished considerably.
Okonkwo pointed out that while the former minimum wage translated to about $60 per month when the rate was N500 to a dollar, the current wage of N70,000 now equates to approximately $45 per month at the current exchange rate.
This stark difference demonstrates that despite the nominal increase in the minimum wage, its purchasing power has actually decreased due to inflation and currency devaluation.
Okonkwo questioned the effectiveness of the recent wage adjustment, suggesting that it fails to address the real economic challenges faced by workers.
News
FAAN Reassures Nigerians Amid Ebola Concerns
It has been reported that the Ebola virus is rising again and there have been some cases. This has caused fear in many, with talks of different viruses spreading.
Amid this concern, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reassured the people that no trace of Ebola has been confirmed in the country, despite the outbreak in Africa.
FAAN shared that they have been on the lookout for travellers who may have symptoms, and so far there is none.
News
JAMB Releases Withheld Results of 279 Students
It has been reported that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has finally released the withheld results of 279 students.
It can be recalled that some results were held due to investigations of cheating. Some results proved to have traces of malpractice and were cancelled, but the ones without traces have been released and the students can finally move on.
JAMB also shared additional advice for students that might have not seen theirs: “Candidates whose results have not yet been released are advised to check their status by sending UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used for registration to view their released results.”
News
Goodluck Jonathan Reportedly Linked to 2027 Presidential Race
It was reported that former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has allegedly purchased a presidential candidate form for the 2027 elections.
It can be noted that Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015.
This information was revealed by Sani Useni, a special assistant who made the claim. Many reacted to the news, with some expressing interest in seeing Jonathan return to power after staying relatively quiet politically since his administration ended.
However, Jonathan has not yet addressed the public or officially shared any presidential ambition.
