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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 monthly wage is no longer sufficient to meet the rising cost of living.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also expressed support for organised labour’s demand for a substantial increase in workers’ salaries.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku attributed the growing pressure on workers to rising petrol, transportation, food and other living costs following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
N70,000 Buys About 50 Litres of Petrol
Atiku said the increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 had not restored workers’ purchasing power because of the sharp increase in the price of petrol and other essential goods.
He said that at a petrol price of about N1,400 per litre, the entire N70,000 monthly minimum wage would purchase only about 50 litres of petrol.
“At ₦1,400 a litre, the entire ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage buys just 50 litres of petrol,” Atiku said. He compared this with the situation in April 2023, when the national average petrol price was N254.06 per litre and the then N30,000 minimum wage could purchase approximately 118 litres.
According to him, the increase in nominal wages has been overtaken by the rise in the cost of fuel and other basic necessities.
Atiku Compares Nigeria With Other African Countries
The former vice-president also compared Nigeria’s minimum wage with wages in some other African countries.
Using exchange rates from July 24, 2026, he put the equivalent monthly minimum wages at approximately N213,000 for Libya, N245,000 for Algeria, N302,000 for Equatorial Guinea and N351,000 for Gabon.
He also said the minimum wage in Benin Republic was higher than Nigeria’s when converted using the exchange rates cited in his statement.
Atiku acknowledged that wage structures and living costs vary from country to country but maintained that the differences did not make Nigeria’s N70,000 wage adequate for workers facing current economic conditions.
Fuel Prices and Cost of Living
Atiku argued that the impact of higher petrol prices goes beyond transportation, saying increases at the pump eventually affect the prices of food, rent, energy, transportation and other essential goods.
He said workers were being forced to spend a larger proportion of their salaries on transportation and basic necessities, leaving less income available for food, housing and other household needs.
The former vice-president has previously criticised the federal government over rising petrol prices. In an earlier statement, he called for greater transparency over oil revenues and savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy, after petrol prices rose to as much as N1,450 per litre in some locations.
Calls for Higher Wages
Atiku urged President Tinubu to approve a substantial increase in the minimum wage to reflect the current cost of food, transportation, rent and electricity.
He argued that workers should not have their wages increased in nominal terms while inflation and other living expenses continue to reduce their purchasing power.
The ADC presidential candidate said the Nigerian worker remains central to the country’s economy and should have sufficient income to meet basic household needs.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to review the current wage structure and respond to the demand for higher pay.
The comments come amid continuing national debate over the impact of the petrol subsidy removal, rising transportation costs and the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.
Nigeria’s minimum wage was increased from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024 following negotiations between the Federal Government, state governments, employers and organised labour.
