General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged 36 governors and the Houses of Assemblies to reduce their salary and emoluments by 50 per cent.
He said this would ensure that there are sufficient funds to tackle the challenges facing education, health and other critical sectors in the country.
Adeboye spoke on Sunday during the special prayer and thanksgiving service for the New Year at RCCG headquarters in Ebutte-Metta, Lagos.
The event, tagged: Unbeatable Champions, was attended by thousands of Christians from across the country.
The eminent cleric noted that the nation’s budget for health, education and infrastructure, compared to those of advanced countries, shows that Nigeria has a long way to in its quest for development.
Adeboye, who spoke through the Assistant General Overseer, Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, regretted that Nigeria’s budgets mostly end up in private pockets in the guise of salaries and emolument because priority is not given to critical sectors of the economy.
The cleric said this should worry Nigerians.
He urged the Federal Government to emulate the developed countries by increasing budget for education, health and infrastructure.
Adeboye noted that the N30,000 minimum wage for civil servants has become a subject of hot debate as some governors are not willing to pay it.
He expressed worry that the salary of the governors and their cronies remain intact while timely payment of the salary of civil servants suffers.