Obasanjo Criticizes N70,000 Minimum Wage as Insufficient for Workers’ Needs

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed dissatisfaction with the N70,000 minimum wage approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024, arguing that it falls short of meeting workers’ essential needs, such as housing, food, and transportation.

In his book Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo remarked, “The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep. Workers need more attention than they are getting. It is their right, and they have been denied it for too long.”

He also criticized labor leaders for allegedly prioritizing personal gains over the welfare of workers, stating, “The workers thereby become victims of selfish leaders who use their positions to achieve political heights. Rather than negotiate in the interest of Nigerian workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) ‘do sabre-rattling and they are called into the room and money in large amounts is stuffed into their hands and they keep quiet.’”

Supporters of the minimum wage argue that it can improve workers’ living standards, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth by ensuring a basic income for spending. Studies also suggest that higher wages contribute to better health and reduced food insecurity. Governor Aliyu Sokoto of Sokoto State recently implemented the N70,000 minimum wage for public servants, urging them to reciprocate by fulfilling their duties diligently.