Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage, arguing that it is insufficient to meet workers’ basic needs, including transportation, food, and housing. In his latest book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo accused labour leaders of betraying workers by prioritizing personal interests over their welfare.
He questioned how some union leaders used their positions to negotiate political ambitions instead of fighting for better wages.
According to him, labour leaders have become ineffective and susceptible to bribes from government officials, leading to the continued suffering of workers. He also criticized the practice of government officials allegedly paying off union leaders to silence agitation.
Obasanjo proposed that labour leaders should be barred from joining politics for at least five years after leaving office to prevent conflicts of interest.
The N70,000 minimum wage, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, was a result of negotiations that saw labour’s initial demand of N250,000 significantly reduced. Before this, the minimum wage stood at N33,000, approved in 2019.
