New Minimum Wage: Labour Leaders Betrayed Nigerian Workers, Took Bribe From Govt — Ex-President Obasanjo

MONDAY March 17, 2025 |TheNewsDESK

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the N70,000 minimum wage approved by Bola Tinubu last year, arguing that it falls short of meeting workers’ essential needs, such as transportation, food, and housing, ParallelFACTS reports.

He also accused labour leaders of betraying workers by prioritizing personal interests over their collective well-being.

“That is the situation in Nigeria in the third decade of the 21st century.

“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” Obasanjo wrote in his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future”.

Obasanjo also claimed labour leader are more interested in pursuing personal interests.

“Because of their political ambitions, most union leaders are ineffective compared to the founding fathers’ expectations.

“The workers thereby become victims of selfish leaders who use their positions to achieve political heights.

“Rather than negotiate in the interest of the workers, they do sabre-rattling and they are called into the room, and money in large amounts is stuffed into their hands and they keep quiet.

“That has been the case since 2015. And, if anything, it is going from bad to worse,” Obasanjo added.