Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s minimum wage, arguing that the current ₦70,000 wage has been weakened by rising fuel, food, transport and housing costs.
The renewed call adds to the growing debate over workers’ purchasing power and whether the national minimum wage still reflects Nigeria’s current cost of living. Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on September 27 through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Why Atiku urges Tinubu wage increase
Atiku said the increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 had not sufficiently protected workers from higher living costs.
He pointed particularly to petrol prices, arguing that at ₦1,400 per litre, a worker earning ₦70,000 monthly could buy only about 50 litres of petrol.
According to Atiku, the pressure does not end at filling stations because transport and energy costs also affect food prices, school expenses and other household spending.
₦70,000 minimum wage faces fresh scrutiny
Nigeria adopted the ₦70,000 national minimum wage in 2024 following negotiations involving the Federal Government and organised labour.
President Tinubu approved the ₦70,000 benchmark in July 2024 and said the wage would be reviewed after three years rather than five. The government said the adjustment was intended to provide relief to Nigerian workers amid difficult economic conditions.
However, recent increases in living costs have revived calls for another review.
Civil servants have also recently asked the Federal Government to consider a wage award and begin negotiations toward a new national minimum wage ahead of January 2027.
Atiku questions workers’ purchasing power
Atiku based much of his argument on purchasing power rather than the size of workers’ salaries alone.
He compared the present situation with April 2023, when he said the ₦30,000 minimum wage could buy roughly 118 litres of petrol at an average price of ₦254.06 per litre.
By contrast, he argued that ₦70,000 would buy around 50 litres at a petrol price of ₦1,400 per litre.
His argument is that while the nominal value of the minimum wage has increased, the amount of essential goods and services workers can purchase with it has declined.
What Atiku wants Tinubu to do
Atiku called on the Federal Government to agree to what he described as a substantial increase in the minimum wage that reflects the cost of food, transportation, rent and power.
He also said raising salaries alone would not solve the problem unless measures were taken to reduce broader living costs.
Atiku further said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would begin work on raising the wage floor from its first day in office. He also proposed measures aimed at supporting domestic production and reducing cost pressures. These remain campaign proposals.
Minimum wage debate grows ahead of 2027
The latest intervention comes as wages and the cost of living remain major economic issues in Nigeria.
The Tinubu administration has previously maintained that the ₦70,000 minimum wage was reached following negotiations with labour and other stakeholders, while also committing to a shorter review cycle.
Atiku’s call now adds another political dimension to the debate as workers, labour representatives and government officials continue discussions over income and living costs.
For Nigerian workers, the central question remains whether future wage adjustments can keep pace with the prices of food, fuel, transport, housing and other essential needs.
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