Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged for a comprehensive review of workers’ salaries to foster honesty and transparency.

During a reception held in his honour by the Nigerian High Commission in London, on Monday, Dr Abbas said such a measure would also strengthen the fight against corruption, which he considered crucial for societal progress.

He highlighted the success achieved by the United Kingdom and other Western countries through a similar approach.

These nations analysed the needs of an average worker and established a living wage that covers essential expenses, ensuring that individuals do not feel compelled to seek unlawful means to supplement their income, the speaker explained.

Dr Abbas, drawing a comparison, remarked that labourers in London receive sufficient compensation to meet basic needs, “by providing this kind of incentive, the risk of individuals resorting to borrowing, begging, or engaging in criminality is significantly reduced.”

In contrast, he lamented the current situation in Nigeria, where the average worker earns less than the amount required to fill a car’s fuel tank and `argued that such circumstances create a fertile ground for corruption to take hold among employees.

To address this issue, he emphasised the need for equitable treatment under the law, advocating for a system that ensures justice and fairness for both the “big and the small.”

Dr. Abbas also called for a cultural revolution where individuals prioritise taking care of their families within their means.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji-Isola, explained that the reception was organised to honour Dr. Abbas, who recently achieved a historic victory in a highly contested election.