Increase minimum wage now, Atiku tells Tinubu

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to raise the national minimum wage. In a statement by ADC's Strategic Communications Director Phrank Shaibu, Atiku called for a substantial increase in the wage, accusing the administration of presiding over an "economic squeeze" that leaves workers with less despite paying them more on paper.

He criticized the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 as insufficient to meet the needs of families, noting that it can only buy roughly 50 litres of petrol at today's fuel prices, leaving workers struggling to afford other essentials like food, transport, and rent. Atiku argued that the wage increase from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 did not restore the purchasing power of workers, as the ₦70,000 minimum wage now purchases only 50 litres of petrol, leaving little for other necessities.

Comparing Nigeria's minimum wage to those in several oil-producing African countries, Atiku pointed out that even Benin Republic's minimum wage exceeds Nigeria's when adjusted for exchange rates. He emphasized that the Nigerian worker, the country's "engine of productive life," deserves better, and criticized Tinubu for expecting the engine to run without fuel.

Atiku challenged Tinubu to agree to a substantial wage increase that reflects the real cost of living, or to clearly state his lack of intention to raise pay. He promised to implement policies that lower living costs and support Nigerian production if elected, emphasizing that a living wage must enable workers to live on their earnings.