Veteran stand-up comedian and actor, Ali Baba, has said that the minimum wage saga is borne out of poverty and our lack of productivity in Nigeria.

The social commentator said that there are certain states that can not sustain themselves, but still have a civil service overhead that equals that of a relatively financially buoyant state.

According to the Delta-born comedian, some states are spending what they don’t earn while others are living off the resources of oil-producing states and lacking productivity themselves.

Ali Baba made these assertions on his Instagram page with a diagram explaining his point.

He wrote;

“I saw this post today and something that I have been meaning to say just clicked. You see the matter of minimum wage, is at the very heart of our poverty and our lack productivity in this country. Let me explain.

“There are certain states that can not sustain themselves, but still have a civil service overhead that equals that of a relatively financially buoyant state. Take states like GOMBE, JIGAWA, TARABA, KEBBI…

“How much do they generate as IGR? Can these states, even in the south, pay N30,000 as minimum wage? But when all the workers across the country, that can sustain the 30k are shouting solidarity forever!!!!,

“They too will join. Even states that are owing over 16 months, are now going to be forced to pay 30k. You see, that is exactly what our problem is in Nigeria as a Country.

“A state governor that has no IGR that can sustain his state’s civil service salaries will be driving around in bulletproof vehicles, that can sort salaries of some state ministries for 6 months.

“Now we want to make things more difficult for those states that were struggling to pay 18k. If they couldn’t pay 18k how will they pay 30k? Agreed some of the governors are living large at the expense of the oil-producing states, there are some who should not be given anything sef.

“JUSTICE IS WHEN THAT SHARING FORMULA IS REMOVED. YOU ONLY SPEND WHAT YOUR STATE CAN PRODUCE. As seen in the picture, you only see what you can see. Enough of this equality and equity nonsense.

“It’s killing us. Can you imagine if all footballers in the Premier League are paid a minimum wage no matter the financial strength of their club? Productivity will drop.

“Because even players who don’t deserve some pecks, because their clubs are not high earners, will be asking to be paid like those in cash cow clubs. Can you imagine Burnley players asking for what Man United or Chelsea is paying as bonus?”