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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized the new minimum wage of N70,000, saying it was not enough to meet the basic needs of workers.
After many round trips with labor leaders, the minimum wage was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024.
Obasancho is now criticizing labor leaders, saying they betray workers by prioritizing personal interests over collective welfare.
“This is the situation in Nigeria in the thirty years of the 21st century.
“The minimum wage doesn’t even pay for some workers’ transportation, let alone food, housing and home maintenance,” Obasanjo wrote in his latest release of book Nigeria: The Past and the Future.”
Obasancho continued: “Because of their political ambitions, most union leaders are ineffective compared to the expectations of the Founding Fathers.
“Therefore, workers become victims of selfish leaders, who use their positions to reach political heights.
“They did not negotiate for the benefit of the workers, but did the sakri swing, they were summoned into the room, and a lot of money was stuffed into their hands, and they kept quiet.
“That has been the case since 2015. And, if anything, it will get worse.”