Special Adviser to the President on policy communication, Daniel Bwala Nigerians at home earning monthly income of N60,000 are better than their counterparts working in the United Kingdom and earning between £2,600 and £2,800 after incurring expenses.
He spoke during an appearance on the Morayo Afolabi Brown Show which aired on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from the audience about what the federal government was doing to address the rising rate of emigration, popularly known as japa, Bwala said that some Nigerians who believe they are struggling financially are better off than many of their counterparts who migrated to the United Kingdom in search of better opportunities.
He claimed that many highly educated Nigerians in the UK work in care homes despite holding university degrees, adding that the cost of living leaves them with little disposable income.
According to him, some Nigerians with first-class degrees and postgraduate qualifications are employed as care workers, a job he described as “modern-day slavery”.
“Some of you in Nigeria who think you are suffering are better off than your colleagues that japa five years ago,” Bwala said.
“A Nigerian who finished with a first class or second class degree, and even adds another degree in the UK, many of them work in care homes. As far as I am concerned, it is modern-day slavery.
“On average, they earn about £2,600 or £2,800 a month, but almost all of it goes to rent, electricity, internet, television and other bills. By the time you add feeding and other expenses, there is very little left. That is why many of them are forced to do two or three jobs.”
Bwala compared their situation with that of a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 monthly, arguing that despite the lower income, such a person may have stronger family and community support and face lower living costs.
“I will compare that person with a Nigerian here earning ₦60,000. I’m just giving an example. That person may have relatives or friends who can lend or support them. Also, what we pay for electricity and some social services here is almost nothing compared to what people pay there,” he said.
Bwala acknowledged that Nigerians living abroad may enjoy better infrastructure and access to healthcare but argued that many still struggle to own assets because of the high cost of living.
“Your challenge here may be that you don’t have enough money to build a house or buy a car. That other person may not even own a car or be able to buy one in the next 20 years. Although they have better infrastructure and access to healthcare, they are not necessarily better off financially,” he said.
