Muhammad Bunza, the Accord Party (AP) gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi, has promised to implement a N500,000 minimum wage in the state if elected.

Mr Bunza stated this on Saturday at the Candidates Engagement Forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kebbi Council.

He said workers’ take-home pay did not match the reality on the ground.

The governorship hopeful lamented that workers have been exposed to trauma and untold hardship due to unpopular government policies, adding that such policies were gradually driving them into hopelessness.

“If elected governor of Kebbi, I will ensure that the least paid worker goes home with N500,000.

“This is with a view to improving workers’ welfare because they are the engine room of every nation’s development; therefore, they must be treated with dignity.

“Nigeria has the money to pay workers a living wage, not a minimum wage. In Nigeria today, a worker is just a slave to those in positions of authority. I want to change the narrative, if elected,” he said.

Mr Bunza said his candidature was not for personal aggrandisement, but rather to liberate Kebbi and the people of the state.

He also listed security as one of his topmost priorities, insisting that the present administrations at all levels were not doing enough to end banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state and the country at large.

Mr Bunza alleged that the security architecture of the country was tied to those in the corridors of power; hence they were protected against kidnapping.

He pledged to tackle insecurity head-on to give the people of Kebbi hope and peace.

“My mission is to make Kebbi an agricultural hub of this nation. In Nigeria, our government doesn’t think out of the box; however, my approach will be different from what is obtainable,” he said.

The governorship candidate said the health sector would receive adequate attention to curb medical tourism.

“All our hospitals will be transformed and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to provide effective and efficient services to every citizen irrespective of status.

“I will ensure enough supply of medicine to hospitals in both urban and rural areas to be given free to patients. I want a situation where no patient will complain.”

Mr Bunza, therefore, urged the electorate to vote for the Accord Party.

(NAN)