Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has generated serious public debate after saying that, in some situations, a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 every month may be better off than someone earning between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly in the United Kingdom.

Speaking on The Morayo Afolabi Brown Show, Bwala argued that many Nigerians relocate abroad expecting a better life but later discover that rent, utility bills, transport, food and other living expenses consume almost all their income.

According to him, many Nigerian graduates in the UK also end up working in care homes and warehouses despite holding university degrees, which he described as a form of modern-day slavery.He further claimed that strong family and community support in Nigeria can sometimes make life easier for people on lower incomes.

His remarks quickly attracted criticism on X, where many users argued that ₦60,000 is no longer enough to cover basic necessities such as food, transport, electricity and fuel in Nigeria's current economy.

Others pointed out that although living costs are higher in the UK, residents generally benefit from more reliable electricity, better healthcare, stronger public infrastructure, improved security, social welfare and more efficient public services.

Some users also challenged Bwala's economic comparison, saying UK salaries provide significantly higher purchasing power despite the higher cost of living.

During the interview, Bwala also defended the Tinubu administration by highlighting government initiatives such as subsidised dialysis in federal hospitals and free Caesarean section programmes.

However, most of the online discussion focused on his comparison between living standards in Nigeria and the UK, with many Nigerians rejecting his conclusion.