Aide Dumps Politician Over ₦20k Monthly Wage, Cites Economic Realities

Tunbosun Awe, a ward liaison officer (aide) to Senator Olajide Ipinsagba representing Ondo North Senatorial District, has resigned from his position, citing dissatisfaction with his ₦20,000 monthly salary.

Awe, who served at Isowopo Ward II in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, made the resignation known in a letter released publicly on Wednesday. In the letter, he described the pay as grossly inadequate and out of touch with Nigeria’s current economic realities and the newly passed ₦70,000 national minimum wage.

“This is sequel to the ₦20,000 monthly salary payment to me, which is against the present economic realities and a far cry from the national minimum wage,” Awe stated.

According to him, the amount had remained unchanged since 2007 when he worked as a personal assistant to the senator, who at the time served as Special Assistant to the government on industrialisation under the late Governor Olusegun Agagu.

He further disclosed that several attempts to secure an audience with the senator to request an upward review of his salary were unsuccessful.

“An audience had been sought with you at different intervals of the need to increase the pay, all to no avail,” he wrote, lamenting that his contributions and loyalty over the years had not been fairly compensated.

Awe recalled his longstanding relationship with the senator, which began in 2006 during Ipinsagba’s first senatorial bid. He served as secretary of the campaign structure at the time and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve despite his grievances.

When contacted for a response, Senator Ipinsagba’s spokesperson, Yinka Ajagunna, promised to issue a detailed reaction but had not done so as of the time of filing this report. Multiple attempts to reach him by phone were also unsuccessful.