Atiku Abubakar Critiques N70,000 Minimum Wage Impact

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has expressed strong support for organized labor's demand for a significant increase in Nigeria's minimum wage. He stated that the recent increase from N30,000 to N70,000 has failed to restore workers' purchasing power, accusing President Bola Tinubu of overseeing a harsh economic environment where workers earn more nominally but struggle to afford basic necessities.

In a statement from Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku condemned the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he claims led to soaring prices without adequate protections for families. He illustrated the inadequacy of the N70,000 wage by comparing fuel prices, noting that at N1,400 per litre, it only allows for the purchase of 50 litres of petrol, significantly less than what was possible with the previous wage.

Atiku also pointed out that Nigeria's wage floor is lower than those of several other oil-producing and African nations, emphasizing the plight of Nigerian workers.