Atiku Abubakar Demands Minimum Wage Increase Amid Fuel Crisis

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has called on President Bola Tinubu to raise the national minimum wage, currently set at N70,000. In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communications for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku highlighted that the wage has been eroded by escalating costs of fuel, food, transportation, and housing.

He noted that the minimum wage, which was increased from N30,000 to N70,000 in July 2024, does not adequately protect workers from rising prices. At N1,400 per litre, the N70,000 wage only allows workers to purchase about 50 litres of petrol, compared to 118 litres at the previous wage level when petrol was N254.06 per litre.

Atiku criticized the removal of the petrol subsidy and argued that the government has not provided sufficient support for working families. He emphasized that the impact of high petrol prices extends beyond fuel costs, affecting food prices and transportation.