Chris Ngige’s monthly income after taxes is N942,000.
Ngige revealed this on Channels Television Politics Today on May 1, 2023.
Ngige, like other ministers, stated his remuneration does not include allowances.
The Minister explained: “My meals, my transport, the cost of one Personal Assistant (PA), the salary of my gardener, my books, they are all merged. I get N942,000 after high taxes. All ministers are like that. We only get allowances when travelling.”
Ngige has stated that Nigerian employees are correct to call for better wages but that the federal government is trying.
However, the Labour Minister denied reports of a minimum wage increase before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.
Since the last review was in 2019, Ngige said the next one will be in 2024 under the incoming administration.
Ngige Criticizes Resident Doctor Strike Plan
In another event, the Minister of Labour and Employment slammed the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for threatening to strike if their demands are not met within two weeks.
On Saturday, local doctors gave the federal government two weeks to comply or risk industrial unrest.
The resident physicians announced this in a communiqué on Saturday after the Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The physicians demanded the welfare of doctors, the increasing rate of their departure to other nations, poor remuneration, inadequate health sector funding, and the harmful effects on people and health workers.
Other demands include an immediate increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to 200 per cent of doctors’ gross salaries and new allowances on the CONMESS review.
The NARD also called for the measure to require medical and dental graduates to serve five years in Nigeria before receiving full licences to practise to be immediately withdrawn.
On Monday, Ngige told Arise Television that physicians cannot strike over a measure that would require them to reside in the nation for five years before being awarded full licences.
The Minister said the physicians’ requests show a “entitlement syndrome” and that the government has given resident doctors “whatever they want”.
He said the “private member bill” to limit health worker migration is outside the executive’s power.
