Senator Peter Nwebonyi has recounted how he turned down an offer to work as a State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Ebonyi State, shortly after graduating from the university in 2006 due to what he considered inadequate remuneration.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV from 29:53, Nwebonyi, who is a trained lawyer, said the salary being offered at the time was less than ₦70,000, an amount he believed did not match his earning potential in private legal practice.
“I left the university in the year 2006 and I was offered a job as State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice of Ebonyi State because I’m a lawyer. My question was, what is the salary of a State Counsel? And by then, a State Counsel was receiving less than ₦70,000. I said no, one appearance fee will give me ₦100,000 in a very good case,” Nwebonyi explained.
The senator said his decision was influenced by the reality that legal practice, particularly in well-paying cases, could yield far more income than the fixed monthly salary of a government job. He noted that while public service is important, the economic realities at the time made it difficult for him to accept such an offer.
Nwebonyi’s account sheds light on the persistent challenge of attracting skilled professionals into Nigeria’s public sector, where wages in many government positions are often lower than potential earnings in the private sector.
Analysts argue that such disparities contribute to brain drain in critical sectors, as professionals often prioritize financially rewarding opportunities over public service roles. The senator’s experience also reflects the broader conversation on the need for improved remuneration in government service to attract and retain top talent.
