Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Laolu Akande, has cautioned labour unions not to fall for the oft-repeated claim that the Nigerian government lacks the financial capacity to pay a new national minimum wage.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Friday, Akande urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to stay firm in their demand, insisting that political elites always find funds when it suits their interests.
“Let’s make this point. We should never accept the argument that there’s no money [to pay minimum wage]. We should never accept it. Because, the political elites, when they want to do something, they go fetch the money. They get the money when they need to get the money. Nigeria has the resources,” Akande said during the live interview.
Akande’s comments come amidst growing tensions between organised labour and the federal government over a new minimum wage structure. Labour unions have rejected the federal government’s proposal of ₦48,000, insisting that it does not reflect current economic realities, especially following the removal of petrol subsidies and naira devaluation.
Beyond the issue of available funds, Akande drew attention to Nigeria’s poor work culture and low worker motivation, which he said is partly a result of poor remuneration and inadequate welfare systems. He acknowledged that while many Nigerians in both the public and private sectors remain hardworking and diligent, a significant number feel undervalued and demoralised.
“There are still very diligent people in the workforce both in the public and private sectors. But you’ll find out that the attitude to work in our country is generally poor because people are not motivated,” he noted.
According to Akande, both the public and private sectors can afford to pay better wages if the right systems are in place. He urged government and business leaders to think creatively about how to compensate and motivate workers, even beyond direct cash payments.
“For instance, what happens to taking care of their accommodation? If you can’t give somebody cash, how about providing for their housing? How about doing something that takes care of the payment of their children’s education? How about giving them healthcare?” he asked rhetorically.
Akande’s suggestions align with global best practices where employee welfare packages include non-cash benefits such as housing, healthcare, transport, and education support. He argued that these interventions would boost productivity, reduce brain drain, and help restore dignity to labour.
On another note, Akande also revisited the fate of the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He expressed disappointment over how the programmes lost momentum after being transferred from the Office of the Vice President to a newly created ministry in 2019.
“The problem was that in 2019, the president decided to take the thing to a ministry, which wasn’t a bad thing, and then put somebody who had no experience, who was not involved in what had happened up until 2019, to head the place,” he lamented.
Akande argued that the administration should have appointed someone who had been part of the programme from inception, particularly when the SIPs—such as N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer, and TraderMoni—had received both local and international commendation for their impact.
“He [President Buhari] should have used the people who were involved in the system since 2016, or at least get them involved. That way, the momentum and integrity of the programme would have been sustained,” he said.
As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges and the demands for a living wage grow louder, Akande’s comments offer a reminder that political will, creative thinking, and prioritisation of the common good are key to achieving lasting progress.
