Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, , has called for a ₦500,000 national minimum wage for Nigerian workers, insisting that employees across the country deserve salaries that reflect the worsening economic situation and soaring cost of living.
Sowore made the statement while reacting to the growing hardship faced by millions of Nigerians following rising inflation, fuel price hikes, increased transportation costs, and the continuous depreciation of the naira.
According to him, the current minimum wage structure is no longer realistic considering the sharp increase in prices of food items, house rent, electricity tariffs, healthcare, and education.
He argued that Nigerian workers can no longer survive comfortably on low wages, stressing that the government must prioritize workers’ welfare and economic stability.
The reality is that Nigerian workers deserve better salaries that can match the present economic realities, Sowore reportedly stated while advocating for urgent wage reforms.
His comments have sparked reactions across social media, with many Nigerians supporting the proposal and describing the current economic conditions as unbearable for average workers and civil servants.
Others, however, questioned whether state governments and private employers would be financially capable of implementing such a significant wage increase without broader economic reforms.
Nigeria recently adopted a ₦70,000 minimum wage after negotiations between the Federal Government and labour unions. Despite the increase, labour groups and economic analysts have continued to raise concerns that inflation has already reduced the value and purchasing power of workers’ earnings.
