The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has said Nigerians will soon get what he called a new Survival Wage structure.
The Speaker said the House was interested in the ongoing review of the National Minimum Wage.
He said poor wage promotes corruption in any society.
Abbas admitted that lawmakers across the country have been undergoing societal pressure to provide services outside their legislative duties, especially financial requests.
The Speaker spoke at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) policy dialogue on Corruption, Social Norms and Behavioural Change in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.
He said: “However, we must acknowledge that there are other factors that influence the attitude or action of citizens to indulge in corruption.
“For instance, the question around a survival wage system is a big factor. A situation where the take-home pay of a large segment of the population is unable to take them home is a recipe for all manner of corruption.
“This is why the House of Representatives is particularly interested in the ongoing review of minimum wage in the country. The House, this time round, will ensure that Nigerians get a survival wage that could take them home.”
Abbas also said well-laid-out social safety nets could reduce corruption in a country.
“In many societies where corruption is on a low scale, there are social safety nets that guarantee protection for the people and Nigeria has the capacity to do the same,” he said.
