Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an urgent increase in Nigeria's N70,000 minimum wage, arguing that rising fuel, food, and housing costs have eroded workers' purchasing power. The ADC presidential candidate criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for failing to address the cost-of-living crisis, vowing to review the wage floor if elected in 2027.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. He argued that the current minimum wage was no longer sufficient to meet the basic needs of Nigerian workers, particularly amid renewed increases in petrol prices.
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. The new wage was signed into law by President Tinubu in July 2024. However, Atiku contended that the increase had been overtaken by the rising cost of living, stating, 'Tinubu asked Nigerians to make sacrifices and treated the suffering that followed as an afterthought.'
Using petrol prices as a benchmark, Atiku highlighted the stark decline in purchasing power. He noted that N30,000 could buy about 118 litres of petrol when the national average price was N254.06 per litre in April 2023. At the current price of about N1,400 per litre, he said, N70,000 can buy only 50 litres. 'The payslip has grown, but the fuel it can buy has more than halved,' he said.
Petrol prices have risen sharply in recent weeks amid higher international crude oil prices. In Abuja, some filling stations were selling petrol for between N1,400 and N1,450 per litre in September, according to a Premium Times survey. Atiku blamed the pressure on households partly on the removal of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration, arguing that the policy was implemented without adequate protection for workers.
'The government pulled away the floor, offered workers a flimsy umbrella and now applauds itself while the rain beats down on them,' Atiku said. He emphasized that higher energy costs affect transportation, food production, and other goods and services, stating, '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.'
Atiku challenged Mr Tinubu to agree to a 'substantial' increase in the minimum wage based on the current cost of food, transport, rent, and electricity. He argued that workers should not be made to wait through prolonged negotiations while their purchasing power continues to decline. 'If he has no intention of raising workers’ pay, he should say so plainly and stop stringing the Nigeria Labour Congress and other labour leaders along,' he said.
The former vice president also promised to begin work on increasing the wage floor if elected president in 2027. 'From May 2027, my policies will protect the people: support Nigerian production, deliver relief at the pump and provide targeted help to those hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis,' he said.
Atiku proposed a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerian consumers. He stated the intervention would be subject to a spending cap, public accounting, and independent auditing, with the objective of ensuring that government support translates into lower petrol prices. 'A living wage must buy a living. It is not a privilege; it is a basic right,' he added.
The proposal has sparked debate, with the APC Presidential Campaign Council challenging Atiku to provide details of the legal, fiscal, and operational framework for the subsidy, including its cost, funding source, and safeguards against diversion and fraud. The council also questioned how the proposal would operate under the Petroleum Industry Act, which provides for petroleum prices to be determined by market conditions.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise has warned against a return to a universal petrol subsidy, arguing that such an arrangement could place significant pressure on public finances. It instead called for targeted relief measures to cushion consumers from higher energy costs. However, Atiku maintained that wage increases must be accompanied by measures to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
Organised labour and sections of the workforce have also argued that the N70,000 minimum wage has lost significant purchasing power. In September 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress and federal workers called for a review of the wage, citing rising food, transport, housing, and other living costs. Some states, including Imo, have since approved wages above the national minimum, raising it to N104,000.
The National Minimum Wage Act provides for a review of the national minimum wage every three years, meaning the next statutory review falls within the period of the 2027 general election campaign. Atiku’s demand comes as the debate over how to cushion Nigerians from rising fuel prices intensifies, with stakeholders urging immediate action to address the crisis.
Atiku’s call for a higher minimum wage underscores the growing discontent among workers and the broader economic challenges facing Nigeria. His proposals highlight the need for a balanced approach that addresses both wage increases and the cost of living, while ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency in government interventions.
The former vice president’s statements reflect a broader political strategy to position himself as a champion of workers’ rights ahead of the 2027 election. His critique of the Tinubu administration’s policies aligns with growing public frustration over the economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.
As the 2027 election campaign approaches, the issue of minimum wage and cost-of-living crisis is likely to remain a central topic in national discourse. Atiku’s call for immediate action and his proposed solutions will be closely scrutinized by both supporters and critics in the lead-up to the election.
The ongoing debate over Nigeria’s minimum wage and fuel subsidies underscores the complex interplay between economic policy, political accountability, and social welfare. With inflation and unemployment remaining persistent challenges, the need for sustainable solutions that protect workers’ livelihoods has never been more urgent.