Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the N70,000 minimum wage approved last year by President Bola Tinubu, arguing that it is inadequate to meet workers’ basic needs.
Obasanjo, in his newly released book titled Nigeria: Past and Future, asserted that the new minimum wage does not sufficiently cover essential expenses such as transportation, food, and housing. He lamented that many Nigerian workers struggle to make ends meet under the current wage structure.
“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” the former President wrote.
Beyond criticising the wage itself, Obasanjo also took a swipe at labour leaders, accusing them of prioritising personal interests over the collective welfare of Nigerian workers.
READ ALSO: There Are Bandits, Vagabonds, Ballot Box Snatchers Among Our Traditional Rulers – Obasanjo
He argued that union leaders have become ineffective due to their political ambitions, which he believes have compromised their ability to fight for 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,” Obasanjo stated.
He further alleged that some labour leaders engage in corrupt practices, accepting bribes to silence their advocacy for improved wages and working conditions.
“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 added.