Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the newly approved minimum wage of ₦70,000, arguing that it is insufficient to meet the basic needs of Nigerian workers. The wage increase, which was approved last year by President Bola Tinubu, has been a topic of debate among workers and labour leaders.
Obasanjo expressed his concerns in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where he questioned whether the amount could truly support the average worker. He pointed out that many employees struggle to afford transportation, food, and housing, even with the new wage adjustment.
“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” Obasanjo wrote.
Beyond criticizing the wage itself, Obasanjo also took aim at labour leaders, accusing them of putting their personal interests ahead of the workers they represent. He claimed that many union leaders today are not as effective as those in the past, suggesting that they have become more focused on political ambitions rather than advocating for fair wages and better working conditions.
“Because of their political ambitions, most union leaders are ineffective compared to the founding fathers’ expectations. The workers thereby become victims of selfish leaders who use their positions to achieve political heights,” he stated.
Obasanjo went on to allege that some labour leaders have been compromised, claiming that instead of fighting for workers’ rights, they accept bribes from the government and remain silent on important issues.
“Rather than negotiate in the interest of the workers, they do sabre-rattling and they are called into the room and money in large amounts is stuffed into their hands and they keep quiet. That has been the case since 2015. And, if anything, it is going from bad to worse,” he wrote.
