Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has questioned arguments that increasing Nigeria’s minimum wage to ₦500,000 would trigger inflation, saying similar concerns are rarely raised over the earnings and privileges of political office holders.
Sowore, who spoke at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, challenged the justification often given against higher wages for Nigerian workers, while criticising what he described as excessive remuneration for lawmakers and other public officials.
The activist argued that improving workers’ incomes should not be viewed as an economic threat, insisting that attention should also be given to the cost of maintaining political office holders.
“I’m the guy who proposed ₦500,000 minimum wage, and people said it would cause inflation. Why is it that when your senators, who do nothing, are taking ₦30m monthly, it doesn’t cause inflation?” Sowore said.
He further questioned why alleged cases of corruption and huge financial benefits enjoyed by some public officials are not subjected to the same economic scrutiny as proposals to improve workers’ wages.
According to him, Nigerians who contribute to the country’s economy through their labour should not continue to struggle with low incomes while elected representatives receive substantial financial benefits.
Sowore maintained that increasing workers’ earnings would improve living standards and provide relief to citizens facing rising costs of goods and services.
The AAC presidential candidate has continued to advocate for a higher minimum wage, arguing that government policies should prioritise the welfare of ordinary Nigerians and address economic inequality.
