Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to raise the minimum wage, saying the current N70,000 income floor is inadequate to meet workers’ needs amid rising living costs.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic
Congress (ADC), also backed organised labour’s demand for a substantial
increase in workers’ pay.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, director
of strategic communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku
accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the economic pressure on workers
through the removal of petrol subsidy.
‘N70,000 BUYS JUST 50 LITRES OF PETROL
He said the policy pushed up the cost of petrol,
transportation, food and other essential goods without adequate protection for
working families.
“The government pulled away the floor, offered workers a
flimsy umbrella and now applauds itself while the rain beats down on them,”
Atiku said.
“Fuel, transport, food and rent have devoured their
earnings. This is a callous way to govern people who work hard and ask only for
the means to live.”
Atiku said the increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to
N70,000 failed to restore workers’ purchasing power.
“At ₦1,400 a litre, the entire ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage
buys just 50 litres of petrol,” he said.
“What does the worker take home to feed the children? What
pays the rent? What gets that worker back to work on Monday?”
According to Atiku, the national average petrol price was
N254.06 per litre in April 2023, meaning N30,000 could buy roughly 118 litres
at the time.
He said the current N70,000 minimum wage buys about 50
litres at a petrol price of N1,400 per litre.
“The payslip has grown, but the fuel it can buy has more
than halved. Tinubu has given workers a larger number and left them with a
smaller life. That is hardship dressed up as a wage increase,” Atiku said.
ATIKU COMPARES NIGERIA’S WAGE WITH OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Atiku also compared Nigeria’s minimum wage with those of
other oil-producing and African countries, saying the Nigerian wage floor
compares poorly with those of Libya, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Using exchange rates from July 24, 2026, he said Libya’s
monthly minimum wage was worth approximately N213,000, compared with N245,000
in Algeria, N302,000 in Equatorial Guinea and N351,000 in Gabon.
He added that Benin Republic’s minimum wage is also higher
than Nigeria’s when converted using the cited exchange rates.
Atiku acknowledged that wage structures and living costs
differ across countries but said the differences did not make N70,000 adequate
for Nigerian workers facing current prices.
“The Nigerian worker is the engine of this country’s
productive life, yet Tinubu expects that engine to run without fuel,” he said.
“A worker leaves home before dawn, gives the country a full
day’s labour, then stands at a bus stop wondering whether the money left will
pay the fare home or put food on the family table.”
Atiku said the impact of rising petrol prices extend beyond
transportation because higher energy costs feed into the prices of food and
other essential goods.
“Petrol does not stay at the pump. Its price follows the
farmer to market, enters the baker’s oven and appears in the fare a parent pays
to take a child to school,” he said.
He challenged Tinubu to agree immediately to a substantial
increase in the minimum wage to reflect the cost of food, transport, rent and
power.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com