Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage, stating that it falls short of meeting the basic needs of workers, including transportation, food, and housing, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Obasanjo’s book, Nigeria: Past and Future, criticizes labour leaders for prioritizing personal interests over workers’ welfare, accusing some of using their positions as a springboard for political ambitions, resulting in weak representation.
He also alleged that government officials openly acknowledged bribing labour leaders to silence protests, which he argued further disenfranchises and demoralizes workers.
The former President suggested imposing a five-year ban on labour leaders entering politics after their tenure to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
President Bola Tinubu signed the ₦70,000 minimum wage into law on July 29, 2024, following negotiations that reduced labour’s initial demand of ₦250,000 per month. Previously, the minimum wage stood at ₦33,000, enacted by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
