Labour Party's Okereke Proposes Living Wage for Nigeria

Dr Chibuzo Okereke, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, has announced his intention to abolish Nigeria's minimum wage system in favor of a living wage framework. This new system aims to address the comprehensive socio-economic needs of workers, including decent pay, housing, healthcare, food security, job security, social protection, and a safe working environment.

Okereke criticized the current practice of negotiating minimum wages every few years as inadequate due to the rapidly changing cost of living. He stated that a living-wage law would eliminate the need for frequent negotiations.

Okereke, who was adopted as the LP candidate in May and ratified by its National Executive Committee, emphasized that workers' take-home pay should adjust according to living costs. He also linked workers' welfare to the quality of public services and called for improvements in housing, healthcare, and education.

He identified the overall condition of service as the greatest challenge for Nigerian workers, advocating for fair promotion, training opportunities, and a robust social-protection system.