Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for immediate wage reviews and sweeping economic reforms in Nigeria, warning that worsening economic realities are eroding the value of labour and worsening hardship for millions of citizens.
In a statement released on Friday to mark Workers’ Day via his official social media handle, Obi commended Nigerian workers across various sectors, describing them as the foundation of the nation’s survival and progress.
“Workers are the backbone of every nation,” he said, adding that Nigerian workers “continue to sustain our families, communities, institutions, and national economy, even in the face of severe hardship and uncertainty.”
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over what he described as the sharp decline in the purchasing power of workers due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
“It is deeply painful that those who wake up every day to teach, heal, build, farm, produce, transport, protect, and serve our nation are still denied the dignity and fair reward their labour deserves,” he stated.
Obi noted that the current minimum wage can no longer meet basic living standards in the country.
“In today’s Nigeria, the minimum wage can no longer guarantee even the most modest standard of living, as inflation, rising food prices, transportation costs, and economic hardship continue to erode the value of honest work,” he said.
Highlighting the critical role of human capital in national development, he stressed that no nation can attain sustainable growth without prioritising the welfare of its workforce.
“No nation can truly develop beyond the strength, productivity, and well-being of its workforce. When workers suffer, the nation suffers. When workers are empowered, the nation prospers,” he added.
Beyond economic concerns, Obi also urged Nigerian workers to become more active participants in the democratic process by supporting credible leadership.
According to him, workers must demand and support leadership built on “competence, character, capacity, credibility, and compassion.”
He concluded by calling for a more just and equitable society where labour is properly valued and rewarded.
“A productive nation must be built on justice, fairness, and respect for labour. That is the Nigeria we must work together to achieve.”
What you should know
Peter Obi’s remarks come amid growing national conversations around workers’ welfare, inflation, and the real value of wages in Nigeria.
His comments align with concerns raised by labour unions over the declining purchasing power of workers despite wage adjustments.
The statement also reinforces his broader political message centred on economic reforms, productivity, and governance accountability as debates over the country’s economic direction intensify ahead of future political contests.
