NBTS charges Tinubu to implement new minimum wage

The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomoso, has charged President Bola Tinubu to see to the implementation of his July 18 approval of a new minimum wage of N70,000.

This is the seminary said it was high time political officeholders got more intentional about ensuring the restoration of the nation’s economy on the path of vibrancy.

President, NBTS Ogbomoso, Professor Ola Ayankeye made this call while addressing a press conference to herald the seminary’s 2024 Ministers’ conference with the theme: “The Gospel Minister and His Call,” scheduled to hold from September 9 to September 12.

Speaking, Ayankeye charged Tinubu to move from making pronouncement to practical implementation of the new minimum wage.

Though he noted that citizens should live up to the duties of being law-abiding and praying for their leaders, Ayankeye said leaders were not oblivious of the fact that they got voted into office to ensure a virile economy for Nigerians, but for questions about their will power and selflessness.

Ayankeye said: “There is a difference between pronouncement and execution. It is important that government implements the new minimum wage and we charge them to make efforts in this regard. Our leaders know what they are into and know what to do. If they want to do it, they would do it.

“We also call on all political office holders and all others in government to be more intentional in ensuring the restoration of economic, social, and educational vibrancy in Nigeria.

“More efforts should also be directed to ensuring the security of life and property so that dwellers in Nigeria will experience a conducive atmosphere to face their work with peace of mind.

“The citizenry should also be law-abiding and pray for our leaders regularly. Time has come when everyone should work hard to restore the glory of our nation, Nigeria. Nigeria will rise again in all ramifications.”

Speaking further, Ayankeye said the conference aimed at restoring ministerial sanity that can result in the transformation of the society.

For too long, he decried that some gospel ministers demonstrated a lack of understanding of “what it means to be called, the purpose of the call and how to sharpen the call into the gospel ministry.”

He chided the disgraceful behaviour of some pastors to include pastors asking members of their congregation to lie on the floor for them to climb over.

Noting that such behaviour may stem out of ignorance, Ayankeye stressed that the conference was an opportunity to train ministers to truly behave as ministers of God’s word.

He added: “The theme: The Gospel Minister and His Call, is relevant to the current situation in Nigeria where some gospel ministers demonstrate a lack of understanding of what it means to be called, the purpose of the call and how to sharpen the call into the gospel ministry.

“The result of the ignorance is the disgraceful behaviours found among some pastors. A cursory look into this theme will help in restoring ministerial sanity that can result in the transformation of the society.”

Some of those to speak at the ministers’ conference are: President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Israel Akanji; Rev. Dr K. K. Saleh and Ayankeye himself.

Other expected attendees are all church pastors, specialized ministers, evangelists, missionaries.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE