By George Omagbemi
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s ₦70,000 minimum wage, arguing that rising prices have eroded workers’ purchasing power.
In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku backed organised labour’s demand for a substantial wage increase, saying workers now earn more on paper but struggle to afford basic necessities.
Atiku said the cost of fuel, food, transportation and rent has swallowed a significant portion of workers’ earnings, making the current wage increasingly difficult to live on.
He illustrated the pressure with petrol prices, noting that at about ₦1,400 per litre, ₦70,000 buys roughly 50 litres of petrol. He contrasted this with the purchasing power of the former ₦30,000 minimum wage when petrol averaged ₦254.06 per litre in April 2023.
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the cost-of-living crisis and urged the Federal Government to negotiate a substantial wage adjustment.
He also argued that higher wages must be accompanied by measures to reduce inflation, lower energy costs and boost domestic production.
Atiku further pledged that, if elected in 2027, his administration would begin work on raising the wage floor from its first day in office.
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