The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has stated that Nigeria "is a very very poor country, to be honest and our wealth is overestimated."
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated this on Monday when he appeared on Arise News TV’s programme.
Meanwhile, some workers in different federal establishments across the country had lamented the delay in the payment of their January salary, describing the action of the government as insensitive considering the current economic situation in the country.
However, Onanuga also denied the claim.
He explained that there was a challenge with the platform being used to disburse the salaries.
Onanuga described Nigeria as a “very very poor” country, given its low per capita income, compared to other African nations.
He said; “The office of the AGF has said there is a challenge with the platform being used to disburse the salaries.
“According to a briefing I got this morning, yes, salaries were delayed, but all federal workers have been paid,” he stated.
“Nigeria is a very very poor country, to be honest. I think our wealth is overestimated,”
“I think we have a poor estimation of the wealth of the country, we are a very poor country.”
The presidential aide asserted that with the removal of subsidies on petrol and the unification of the exchange rate, the administration “is hoping that the pressure on our finances will reduce.”