‘With all your money, it’s only N60k you’re paying your cleaner’: Nigerians blast Oshiomhole

The senator representing Edo North senatorial district, Adams Oshiomhole, has come under fire after saying he pays his cleaner N60,000.

Oshiomhole stated this while speaking in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He said, “If I have chosen to employ a cleaner and chosen not to clean the house by myself, that is the least I thought I could pay.

“What we call minimum wage is a criminal wage. If you exchange N30,000 at N800 or N700 to the dollar, what does that translate to?

“So, the value of that minimum wage when it was N125 when it was first introduced under, I think, (Shehu) Shagari’s government – is about two times or three times the value many years later, even in the public service.”

Oshiomole said the average responsible private-sector employee is a better employee than the Federal Government or state government.

He said, “I can tell you what I have decided to pay my cleaner. My cleaner is just a primary school – I’m not sure she has even a school leaving certificate. But she’s knowledgeable enough to clean the house.

“I found myself unable to pay her less than N60,000 – in fact, N60,000. It’s about my conscience. I’m trying to imagine what she has to pay for a house. She told me she has four children.

“I’m trying to imagine how she has to look after those children and I cannot question why she should have four children.

“If I do that to my cleaner, I have to do a little more to my driver because he requires some training and sometimes, even retraining, and my security is in his hands,” he added.

But netizens have picked holes in Oshiomhole’s submission.

@smoke253 said: “Shame on you, your cleaner earns $74 in a month then you come to national TV to brag about it.”

@ininijoe said: “If I were in his shoes, my cleaner will earn nothing less than 200k.”

@AniChiadika said: “Upon all the money u get Na 60k u dey pay ur cleaner.”

@iam_catoma said: “60k per month not even 100$.”

@Nithsmit said: “His cleaner is supposed to be earning over 500k. What’s this one even saying Dollar is now 880 and you’re paying someone 60k How much is oshomole salary? Why will he be paying his staff 60k? What can that even get them? That’s even small for a part time job in this recent economy.”