Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro is an Edo State-born cleric and public affairs commentator. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU , he speaks on the crisis over the national minimum wage, the change of the national anthem as well as Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, among other crucial issues. How do you see the just suspended nationwide strike over the national minimum wage? The beauty of democracy is in agitation.

You do not maltreat citizens over their agitations. Everybody has something of pain to share or seek a solution to. It is beautiful to see the La­bour Movement agitating for solutions to the poor condition of Nigerians workers.

The Ni­gerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have the right to seek better wages for workers in the midst of the poor economic situation of the workers. The agitation is long overdue. The workers, since the inception of this administration, have borne the brunt of the economic crisis this country is facing today.

If you take it to the lower ladder of citizens, how much does the average worker earn vis a vis the top officers of the government. The government at the centre has been trampling on the peo­ple. Leave and allowances are no longer in existence.

With the removal of fuel subsidies, it is difficult for the citizens to sur­vive. Inflation and cost of living have skyrocketed, affecting ev­ery citizen. Within the frame­work workers interact, they take care of their food, health, education, etc.

If the minimum.