Cleric Hails Border Closure, Wants Minimum Wage Implemented

The Overseer, Highway to Grace Assembly Ministry, Rev Chika Madu,Nsukka, has commended the Federal Government for the closure of the land  borders to check flooding the country with foreign goods.
Madu told The Tide’s source in Nsukka that the closure had compelled more citizens to patronise locally produced goods
According to him, no country will become a leading economy by depending on foreign goods at the expense of locally produced goods.
“No country survives by making itself a dumping ground for goods produced in other countries, “he said.
He said one of the ways to fight poverty and unemployment, is to buy more of locally made goods.
“ As Nigerians buy more foreign goods, they create more employments for those countries and increase unemployment in Nigeria,” he said.
He said since the closure of the borders, information available had shown there had been increase in buying of locally produced goods, especially rice.
“If we buy and eat local rice, it will enable rice farmers to make more sells as well as employ more hands.
“ Many nutritional experts have recommended local rice for families since it is more nutritious and has more health benefits, “ he said.
On the face-off between government and Nigeria Labour Congress over non- implementing of the new minimum wage, the cleric said government had no reason not to implement the wage increase it signed into law since April 18.