I must admit that what salary rarely does is turn people into billionaires. But also believe the billionaire mark is not where the poverty line stops.
But who am I to disagree with a billionaire? Well, at the risk of being misunderstood – and in defiance of my current account balance – I would like to remind the mogul that salaries have done a lot not only to alleviate poverty but to prevent it. This is especially true where those who determine, compute, and pay wages do so with empathy, integrity, respect, and a bit of commonsense.
When employers pay a wage that reflects prevailing economic realities, and when governments resist the urge to impose excessive taxes on workers, poverty declines. Basic economics!
Coming at a time when observers are looking to private establishments-particularly those led by religious individuals-to exceed government’s 44-dollars benchmark (as at this evening), for me, your idea reinforces the mockery that successive wage regimes have become. Sadly..
Indeed, if you, a presumably God-fearing chief executive, do not believe that the salaries you pay can, or indeed, have lifted your employees above the poverty line, then a serious moral question mark hangs over your leadership.
Another danger your motivation portends is that Nigeria’s salaried population, especially the younger generation, may become occupationally disoriented if your message is allowed to gain traction. In pursuit of the elusive pot of gold, they may begin to abandon careers that are critical to nurturing the principles, training, and cultural structures that sustain economies and build nations.
Frankly, I am not sure yours is the kind of “motivation” our economy can afford. Not everyone will be a billionaire. And indeed, not everyone needs to be.
So, dear Dr. Maduka, I hope my position does not pre-disqualify me should I someday appear before your boardroom for an interview. I apologize if it does, but I feel strongly about defending and promoting the dignified life that salaried employment should provide.
– Oshaloto Tade writes from Gbeleko, Kabba.
