Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for an urgent review of wages and sweeping economic reforms, warning that worsening economic conditions are eroding the value of labour and deepening hardship for Nigerians.
In a statement marking International Workers Day, Obi praised workers across sectors, describing them as the backbone of the nation’s survival despite ongoing economic challenges.
“Workers are the backbone of every nation,” he said, noting that Nigerian workers continue to sustain families, communities, institutions, and the broader economy “even in the face of severe hardship and uncertainty.”
He expressed concern over the declining purchasing power of wages amid rising inflation and living costs, stressing that many workers are no longer adequately compensated for their efforts.
“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 said.
Obi warned that the current minimum wage is no longer sufficient to guarantee even a basic standard of living, citing escalating food prices, transportation costs, and general economic pressure.
“In today’s Nigeria, the minimum wage can no longer guarantee even the most modest standard of living, as inflation and rising costs continue to erode the value of honest work,” he added.
Highlighting the central role of human capital in national development, Obi said no country can grow beyond the strength and well-being of its workforce.
“When workers suffer, the nation suffers. When workers are empowered, the nation prospers,” he stated.
Beyond economic concerns, the former Anambra State governor urged workers to play an active role in shaping governance through democratic participation. He encouraged citizens to demand leadership defined by competence, integrity, and compassion.
“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.
Obi concluded by calling for a fairer society grounded in justice and respect for labour, stressing that sustainable national development must prioritise workers’ welfare.
“A productive nation must be built on justice, fairness, and respect for labour. That is the Nigeria we must work together to achieve,” he said.
