Atiku calls for immediate review of Nigeria’s N70,000 minimum wage
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to raise Nigeria’s minimum wage, arguing that inflation and petrol prices have sharply reduced workers’ purchasing power. He said the government should provide a clear position rather than prolong negotiations, while promising a higher wage floor if elected in 2027.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately increase Nigeria’s N70,000 national minimum wage, saying rising prices have eroded its value for workers. Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communications for the African Democratic Congress presidential campaign council. He said the cost of fuel, food, transport and housing had outpaced the increase in statutory pay.
The Federal Government raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in July 2024 following negotiations with organised labour. President Tinubu said at the time that the wage would be reviewed after three years. Atiku argued that the current level was no longer sufficient to protect household purchasing power.
Using petrol prices cited in his statement, Atiku compared the amount of fuel workers could buy under the two wage levels. He said N30,000 bought about 118 litres at the April 2023 national average price of N254.06 per litre, while N70,000 bought about 50 litres at N1,400 per litre. He also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying it was implemented without adequate protection for working families.
According to Atiku, higher energy and transport costs affect food and other essential goods because they raise the cost of production and distribution. Atiku challenged Tinubu to state whether the government intended to approve another wage increase. He said workers deserved a definite answer instead of prolonged discussions that produced no outcome.
He promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would begin raising the wage floor from its first day. He also proposed support for domestic production, targeted social protection and a regulated subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold domestically, with spending limits, public accounting and independent audits. The Tinubu administration has defended the N70,000 wage as the result of consultations with labour and other stakeholders, and has previously described it as urgent relief with a review due after three years.
Atiku maintained that the central test was whether workers could afford basic living costs.
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