Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said while those seeking to protest have the right to do, they do not have the right to destabilise the country.
This is as he accused politicians who lost out during the last general elections of being behind the protest to take over the government through the backdoor.
Akpabio spoke during the signing of the new Minimum Wage by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
The Senate President who stated that he was excited about the Nigerian worker and the National Minimum Wage amendment said, “It is a great day for the workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage, we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000, now it is N70,000.
“It is the outcome of years of insecurity. Many people could not go to farms for almost 10 years and know that and the President has risen to the occasion. Every food item that is coming in now will come in without anything like a restaurant solution. There’s no restrictions, because Nigerians need to eat. And then at the same time, most things are coming in with a lot of waivers.
“So my appeal to the Nigerian youth is do not allow any group to mislead you politically. People who probably do not have their fortunes in 2023 election are thinking they can come through the back door and that will amount to anarchy. Any destruction of any property will cause Nigeria money. We don’t have the money. Instead, let’s put the money in developing you and developing your environ instead of going to rebuild.”
Akpabio also disclosed that the bill for the amendment of the budget to finance the new minimum wage will be signed on Wednesday.
Answering questions on the bill to finance the New Minimum wage, he said, “We have gone very far with it. And I expect that by Wednesday it will be signed.(the bill to finance the New Minimum Wage).
Also speaking, the representative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, said the President has shown by signing the bill into law that he cares about the Nigerian people.
“So I think this movement from N30,000 to N70,000 and reducing the negotiation [from five to three] years is a clear demonstration of a commitment to redirect, refocus and reposition Nigeria for greatness.”
