”Solution is Here” , ”Tomorrow is here” are some of the slogan being used by Anambra and Enugu State Government(s). We can actually use effective wage system to achieve societal solutions and ensure that we enjoy the dividends of tomorrow today. But not less than 80% of our populace understand what to expect from Government non understand the concept of solution is here. To an average economist , solution in public sector means using public wealth to lift millions out of poverty while ensuring that creativity and productivity are encouraged.Luckily ,Anambra State has a Governor who understands the concept of equitable distribution of resources,a renowned Professor of Economics. Anambra people were excited that the Governor would bring solutions to address the rising income inequality, food insecurity , and high cost of housing among others . Indeed , we have witnessed the Solution Government for the past forty three months and can rightly confirm if Anambra State government has provided solutions that would address widening economic inequalities among citizenry .

One of the ways to narrow the gap between the poor and the rich is effective wage system and deliberate injection of public funds into households and business unit pockets.

The issue of equitable distribution of resources remains a central concern of every government.

In the pursuit of reducing income inequality and poverty, an effective wage system plays a vital and central role. A well-designed wage structure can contribute significantly to social equity by ensuring that labor is fairly compensated, thus narrowing the income gap between various socioeconomic groups and increasing productivity. Many observers claim that the economic realities and low remuneration under Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration have left some civil servants in Anambra State surviving through handouts and questionable dealings as well as side hustling. It takes a miracle for a civil servant receiving N100,000 per month to survive the high cost of house rent ,food stuffs ,drugs ,school fees etc .

An effective wage system is one that ensures fair remuneration based on skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. It accounts not only for minimum living standards but also incentivizes productivity and social contribution . Such systems often incorporate minimum wage policies, collective bargaining mechanisms, and performance-based pay structures.

In Anambra State, income derived from wages constitutes the primary source of livelihood for the majority of the population. When such wage structures are inequitable or stagnant, the distribution of wealth becomes skewed, often favoring capital over labor . A just wage system, therefore, can act as a corrective mechanism by redistributing income more evenly, enabling workers to access better education, healthcare, and housing. Under Prof Chukwuma Soludo administration,there is no incentive for civil servants to build a modest home , no incentive to buy a decent car unless one is into fraudulent activities or side hustling. Where is the solution when Soludo Government has no policy document or road map for food security!

Efforts by the Federal Government to increase minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 yielded negative outcomes as a result of the double policies of floating naira and fuel subsidy removal . In a rational society, Government actions/ reforms address the living standard of the people but Nigeria Government has become a capitalist entity.

Back to Anambra State , effective wage should be used to evenly distribute available resources among the people living within the State . Again, effective wage system could be used as a tool to encourage savings , consumption and production.

Empirical studies suggest that reasonable increases in real wage can reduce wage disparity without significantly affecting employment.It is the public sector that determines the flow of money in the economy.

In Nigeria, wage administration is managed from the central government but there are creative ways a State Government like Anambra can creatively stand out to motivate her workforces . One of such ways is introduction of performance bonus . I will always advocate for per hour wage system . That is , worker’s wage is measured and assessed base on the number of hours per day . And in that case, there should be a minimum and maximum number of hours a worker is expected to work per day ,say 8 hours and per week say 50 hours . An hour pay could be N3000. Lets assume that a worker makes an average of N24,000 per day , that could be an incentive to achieve a productive society. However ,in view of the current minimum wage law in Nigeria , a visionary Governor can adopt performance bonus approach to encourage productivity as well as equitable distribution of resources.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the potential benefits, implementing an effective wage system faces several challenges. Performance Bonus approach may be undermined by official corruption as the case with most Government activities . However ,the advantages of performance Bonus approach to encourage productivity far outweigh its disadvantages . However , zero tolerance to corruption and competitive wage will surely achieve desired results .In practice , higher wage increases spending , consumption as well as investment. Traders , artisans and other market players will record appreciable economic activities if a competitive wage system is introduced.
Right wage for labour in the private sector should also be structured . Cost of household items/ building materials should be published by Anambra State Marketing Board on daily basis for effective monitoring .

Conclusion

An effective wage system is a fundamental tool for achieving equitable distribution of resources. By ensuring fair compensation for labor, it supports a more inclusive economic model and promotes social justice. Anambra State Government must pay special attention to wage regulation in order to achieve economic sustainability, investing in skill development and labor market reforms to ensure long-term economic development and growth.

Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is an economist with GGM

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD

The Anglican Communion in Nigeria, particularly the Province of the Niger and the Diocese of Awka, has recently become the subject of unfortunate, childish, pedestrian and deeply misguided attacks, orchestrated under the guise of concern for the Church.

The perpetrators of the evil acts and their demonic minded sponsors seek to malign the name of the Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, PhD Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese. Their target was and still is to disgrace him out of office or ridicule him before other Bishops and Archbishops in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. They want him removed.

These so-called “crusaders” are neither defenders of truth nor champions of the Gospel. They are political pawns, driven by malice, envy, and the basest form of propaganda. Their writings reek of childish tantrums disguised as petitions, full of half-baked claims and innuendos, and their sponsors are nothing short of agents of division.

*A Reputation Built on Humility and Integrity*

Archbishop Ibezim is no ordinary Church leader. Over the years, he has established himself as a humble servant of God, a man who carries with dignity the heavy responsibility of shepherding both the flock of Awka Diocese and the entire Province of the Niger. He is known for his calm spirit, his simplicity of life, and his tireless zeal for evangelism. He has spearheaded missions that planted new churches, built schools, and provided healthcare access to communities that governments had long neglected.

Under his leadership, the Diocese of Awka has grown spiritually and structurally. Many youths have been mentored into priesthood, lay training has been strengthened, and the Diocese has become a hub of spiritual revival. To attempt to reduce such a legacy to baseless accusations of “land sales” and “forgery” is not only laughable but a tragic insult to the very intelligence of Anglicans and the Christian communities who know this man of God firsthand.

*The Childishness of the “Nine Crusaders”*

One does not need to be a theologian or investigative journalist to see through the gimmicks of the so-called Nine Crusaders. They claim to be “five priests and four lay persons” with “insider knowledge,” yet they hide under anonymity. What kind of truth-bearers are too cowardly to put their names to their claims? Even Scripture declares: “The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).

Their allegations range from the absurd to the ridiculous. They allege that the Archbishop sold off “60% of diocesan land between 2020 and 2021.” Really? Do they imagine land transactions are conducted like trading yams in the open market? Land sales of such magnitude, if they ever happened, would have left clear, verifiable records. And if there are records, then it’s not as presented. Anglican Church has a Diocesan Board and these lands sold weren’t sold without the imprimatur of the Diocesan Board. If the Board approves it, then everyone in the Board is culpable, not only Archbishop Ibezim.

How senseless some accusations are. They conjure up imaginary figures and even accuse the Archbishop of forging the signature of a retired judge. A forged signature is a legal matter, where are the court cases? Where are the forensic reports? Silence. Because their claims are hollow and baseless.

Their biggest claim is that ₦350 million was handed to Chief Victor Oye to secure the Deputy Governorship slot for Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, the Archbishop’s younger brother. Again, childish nonsense. How is it then that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a man not known for being anyone’s puppet, re-nominated Dr Ibezim for a second term without any such “payments”? If money bought the first ticket, did money also buy the second? The allegation collapses under the weight of its own stupidity.

*Political Masqueraders in Church Garments*

What is obvious here is that the “Nine Crusaders” are political masqueraders. They are less interested in the Church of God and more concerned with re-litigating political battles already decided in 2021. Their bitterness over Dr Onyekachi Ibezim’s emergence as Deputy Governor is the root of their mischief. They drag the Archbishop’s name into political mudslinging, hoping that if they cannot defeat him on the pulpit, they can at least smear him on paper.

Let it be known: the Church is not a political battleground. The Archbishop has consistently maintained that his primary duty is the salvation of souls, not the distribution of political offices. His humility and integrity are evident in his lifestyle and ministry. Unlike the self-serving voices attacking him, Archbishop Ibezim has never sought self-enrichment through the Church. His modest way of life contrasts sharply with the “palatial homes” they accuse him of owning. Every reasonable Anglican knows that those who shout the loudest about corruption are often those with their own skeletons rattling in the cupboard.

*A Shepherd Who Loves His Flock*

Ask the faithful of Awka Diocese who Archbishop Ibezim is, and you will hear testimonies of a shepherd who loves his flock. He has visited rural parishes where others feared to tread, encouraged young priests with scholarships and mentorship, and championed women and youth empowerment initiatives within the Church. He is not a man of empty words but of action—his works speak louder than the foolish petitions of his detractors.

The so-called Crusaders allege that clergy salaries went unpaid while the Archbishop was “funding politics.” Again, laughable. Anyone familiar with church administration knows that Clergy salaries are paid promptly till date in accordance to the rules of
engagement. To twist evil and false assumptions into tales of “lavish political spending” is the height of dishonesty.

*When Critics Look Foolish*

What makes these petitions particularly shameful is their tone. They call a revered Archbishop a “virus” and compile a “catalogue of shame” as though the Church were a political party congress. This kind of language exposes the immaturity of the writers. Serious-minded Christians, even when raising concerns, do so with respect and constructive spirit. But these writers are intoxicated with bitterness. They think they are clever, but in truth, they look like children throwing stones at a cathedral—loud but powerless, noisy but ineffective.

*The Archbishop’s True Legacy*

History will not remember the “Nine Crusaders.” Their anonymous rants will soon be forgotten. But Archbishop Alexander Ibezim’s legacy will endure. He will be remembered as a preacher of the Gospel, a teacher of the Word, and a father to his flock. His work in advancing education, promoting missions, and strengthening Anglican unity will speak louder than the childish pamphlets of his detractors.

The Anglican Communion has weathered storms far stronger than this. From colonial resistance to internal disputes, the Church has always triumphed because the truth cannot be buried by lies. This period of malicious conspiracies and accusations too shall pass.

*A Call to Maturity*

Let those who seek to destroy the Church through baseless petitions remember that they are playing with holy fire. The Church of Christ is not a playground for petty politics. Archbishop Ibezim remains a man of integrity, humility, and vision, an instrument in God’s hand for such a time as this.

To the Nine Crusaders and their sponsors, I say: repent. Your childish antics have already made you look foolish before men and God. Your energy would be better spent preaching the Gospel, feeding the poor, and strengthening the Body of Christ. The Archbishop you fight is not your problem; the bitterness in your hearts is.

And to the faithful Anglican in Anambra and beyond: stand firm, support your Archbishop, and do not be distracted. For the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ. Shalom!

Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD JP is the publicist of the Diocese of Awka/ Province of the Niger, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. He writes from Amanuke Awka North, Anambra State. He is a Journalist, Editor, Author, Union Leader, Community Leader, Inspirational Teacher & Social Commentator.
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