“Which Way Nigeria?” – UNN Law Dean Questions As Purchase Of Water Takes One-fifth Of Salary
The Dean Emeritus Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Professor Joy Ezeilo, has taken to social media to decry the spike in the cost of living.
In a post shared on X, the academician said the cost of purchasing a tanker of water for her house has risen and that the amount would be taking about one-fifth of her salary as a lecturer.
She wrote;
”The fast depreciating purchasing power of my hard-earned salary, the devalued Naira, and the creeping inflation: I just discovered by purchasing water today that my monthly salary can only pay for a limited quantity of water supply. I spent forty thousand naira (40k) for a water tanker one trip load (about 2800 gallons) this evening in Enugu. Talk about price fixing. We bought previously the first week of February for 35k. Of course, the driver said the cost of diesel drives the price. The ultimate buyer bears the brunt. We need at least two tankers for one month at 80k, which would have taken one-fifth of my professorial cadre salary in a Federal University. At this rate, just water without food, electricity, transportation, generator fueling, house rent, school fees, health care, etc., one can see that the One Million Naira being proposed as minimum wage by the Labour Union is not a laughing matter to be dismissed by wave of hand. It increasingly appears either realistic or may need to be more. Which way, Nigeria? I can only hum Sonny Okosun’s (1984 – Which Way Nigeria) and Majek Fashek’s (Send Down the Rain!) songs as I silently pray for reprieve and an urgent economic solution so Nigerians can breathe well.
