SGF Akume: ‘I Can’t Afford to Pay My Four Drivers N100,000 Per Month’

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, is under fire for his recent comments on the minimum wage demands made by organized labour. During a meeting with the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday, Akume expressed his concerns about the feasibility of meeting these demands.

Akume, who also served as the former Governor of Benue State, made a case for the Christian community’s support as the tripartite Committee on minimum wage continues its negotiations. He emphasized the financial strain that a minimum wage of N100,000 per month for his drivers would impose on him.

“I can’t afford to pay my driver one hundred thousand because they are four,” Akume stated. He further questioned the practicality of the demands, asking, “Where do we get that money from?”

The SGF’s remarks have sparked significant backlash, with critics labeling his comments as insensitive and out of touch with the struggles of average Nigerian workers. The controversy is compounded by earlier statements from Akume, reported by SK Blog, in which he accused the organized labour of committing treason by shutting down the national grid during a nationwide strike.