Atiku Urges Tinubu to Raise Minimum Wage Beyond N70,000, Vows Day-One HikeAtiku Urges Tinubu to Raise Minimum Wage Beyond N70,000, Vows Day-One Hike

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to review the national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 salary no longer provides sufficient purchasing power amid rising living costs.

Atiku made the call in a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

He said the continued increase in the cost of fuel, food, transportation and housing had significantly reduced the value of workers’ earnings despite the upward review of the minimum wage.

The former vice president urged the Federal Government to reach an agreement on what he described as a substantial increase that would better reflect prevailing economic realities.

The Federal Government increased the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in July 2024 following negotiations with organised labour. President Tinubu had also indicated that the wage would be reviewed after three years.

However, Atiku argued that the increase had not sufficiently shielded workers from the impact of inflation and rising prices.

He cited petrol prices as an example, noting that at N1,400 per litre, a worker earning N70,000 could purchase only about 50 litres of petrol.

Atiku contrasted this with the N30,000 minimum wage in April 2023, when petrol reportedly sold at an average of N254.06 per litre, allowing workers to purchase approximately 118 litres.

“The payslip has grown, but the fuel it can buy has more than halved,” Atiku said, arguing that the nominal increase in wages had not translated into a corresponding improvement in workers’ living standards.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over petrol prices and the broader cost-of-living crisis.

According to the statement, petrol prices had reached about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with some northern states recording higher prices. Atiku said the development had placed additional pressure on household finances, particularly through increased transportation and food costs.

He also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy was implemented without adequate safeguards for working families.

Atiku maintained that the impact of fuel prices extended beyond the filling station, as higher energy and transportation costs affected farmers, manufacturers, traders and other businesses, ultimately pushing up the prices of essential commodities.

“Petrol does not stay at the pump. Its price follows the farmer to market, enters the baker’s oven and appears in the fare a parent pays to take a child to school,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate also compared Nigeria’s minimum wage with those of some other African oil-producing countries, using exchange rates cited in his statement.

While acknowledging differences in wage structures and living costs across countries, Atiku maintained that the circumstances did not justify retaining a N70,000 minimum wage amid current economic pressures.

He challenged President Tinubu to clearly state his position on another wage review, saying workers should not be left in prolonged negotiations without a definite outcome.

Atiku further said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would begin the process of increasing the wage floor from its first day in office.

He also promised policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, including support for local production, targeted social protection programmes and interventions in the petroleum sector.

According to him, his proposed targeted production subsidy would support petroleum products refined locally and sold to Nigerians, subject to spending limits, transparent accounting and independent audits.

“Government support must produce measurable relief at the pump,” he said.

The former vice president also called for measures to stabilise the prices of essential goods and energy, arguing that wage increases alone would not sufficiently address household pressures if the cost of living continued to rise.

The Tinubu administration has previously defended the N70,000 minimum wage, noting that it was agreed upon after negotiations with organised labour and other stakeholders. The presidency had described the new wage as an immediate measure to provide relief while maintaining that it would be reviewed after three years.

Atiku, however, maintained that the purchasing power of workers should remain the central consideration in assessing the impact of the wage increase.

“Nigerians do not eat FAAC figures. A full treasury is no answer to an empty kitchen,” he said, adding that the effectiveness of government policies should be measured by whether workers can meet their basic needs with their earnings.

“A living wage must buy a living. It is not a privilege; it is a basic right,” Atiku added.