Atiku Abubakar Advocates for Higher Minimum Wage in Nigeria

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has expressed support for organized labor's call for a significant increase in the minimum wage. He stated that the current minimum wage of N70,000 is insufficient, particularly after the removal of the petrol subsidy, which has led to soaring prices.

At N1,400 per litre, N70,000 can only purchase 50 litres of petrol, drastically reducing workers' purchasing power compared to previous averages. Atiku highlighted that Nigeria's minimum wage is far lower than those in other oil-producing nations, such as Libya and Algeria.

He criticized the government's failure to meet the needs of workers, stating that if a full month's wage cannot sustain a family, it is inadequate. Atiku pledged to prioritize raising the wage floor from his first day in office and called for immediate measures to alleviate the cost of living for workers.