Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said that remunerations are generally poor in the country, he also commented about the salary of himself and that of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying they were not fantastic.
Osinbajo spoke while declaring open a seminar titled, “Journalists and Retirement Plan,” organised by the State House Press Corps at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said while he “earns about N1.5m as Vice-President, Buhari earns about N1.75m,” which, he said “are not fantastic wages anyway.”
He noted that many other officials were earning far less than what he and the President were earning.
He said although remunerations were generally poor in the country, the case of journalists was unique because many media owners were making the revenues but simply refused to pay journalists as and when due.
“Generally speaking, people are poorly paid, so there is a need to look at why people are poorly paid.
“Public sector earnings must be looked at and what should be paid and what is right for people to earn should be determined,” he said.
Osinbajo said market forces ought to determine how people were paid.
“Good pay should be a function of a successful media organisation when there is no cheating. Professional organisations ought to be involved in ensuring this,” he said.
He recalled how he visited a retired judge in Lagos and found he was living in a Boy’s Quarter before he embarked on a comprehensive review of judicial conditions of service.
The Vice-President also recalled his brief working experience with media houses as legal adviser, alleging that he was never paid for services rendered despite the irregular hours he put in.
Osinbajo challenged journalists to brighten their prospects and future by always seeking ways of improving themselves and getting better job opportunities with attendant improved income.
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Tony Elumelu, urged journalists not to see retirement as the end but a stepping stone to a better future.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, urged journalists to read books.
Adesina also advised them to learn new skills, so as not to become stale.
Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
If he is complaining about his salary which worth 65% of a primary school teacher 35 years in service. He is not grateful