ABUJA, Nigeria: Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi called for urgent wage reviews and broad economic reforms on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Okay News reports that Obi released a statement on his social media account to mark Workers’ Day, warning that worsening economic conditions continue to undermine the value of labour in the country.
“Workers are the backbone of every nation,” Obi said, adding that Nigerian workers “continue to sustain our families, communities, institutions, and national economy, even in the face of severe hardship and uncertainty.”
Obi stated that the current minimum wage does not provide a basic standard of living due to rising costs. “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.
He concluded his statement by urging workers to participate in the democratic process to shape governance. “They owe it to themselves, their children, and future generations to support and demand leadership built on competence, character, capacity, credibility, and compassion,” he said.
