Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the new minimum wage of N70,000, saying it is not enough to cover workers' basic needs.
The minimum wage was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 after a lot of back and forth with labour Union leaders.
Obasanjo has now criticised labour union leaders, saying they betrayed workers by prioritising personal interests over collective welfare.
“That is the situation in Nigeria in the third decade of the 21st century.
“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” Obasanjo wrote in his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future”.
Obasanjo continued: “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.
“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.”