2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has called for the adoption of a ₦500,000 minimum and living wage for Nigerian workers, insisting that citizens deserve not only to survive but to live with dignity.
Sowore’s comment is coming barely a few hours after former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General John Enenche, argued that Nigerian soldiers should earn not less than ₦250,000 monthly. Enenche had maintained that military personnel make enormous sacrifices in service to the nation and, unlike many other Nigerians, do not have the opportunity to supplement their income through farming or other ventures.
In a post on his official X account on Monday, Sowore said his advocacy for improved workers’ welfare has remained consistent over the years, accusing successive governments of dismissing his proposals only to adopt similar ideas much later.
Recalling his previous campaigns on minimum wage, Sowore wrote: “We proposed a ₦100,000 minimum wage in 2019. They said it would cause inflation.”
He continued: “In 2026, they approved a minimum wage of ₦100,000 for soldiers.”
The former presidential candidate also referenced his 2023 proposal for a higher wage, saying: “We proposed a ₦250,000 minimum wage in 2023. They claimed it would destroy the economy.”
According to him, the same amount is now being proposed by the government.
“Now, in 2026, they are proposing ₦250,000,” he stated.
Sowore argued that the country’s prevailing economic realities require a significantly higher wage for Nigerian workers.
“Today, we are proposing a ₦500,000 minimum and living wage because Nigerians deserve not just to survive, but to live with dignity,” he wrote.
He further accused those in government of always lagging behind the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“They are always years behind the realities facing our people. We lead with ideas; they eventually follow,” Sowore said.
The activist also took a swipe at political officeholders and supporters of other candidates, writing: “These hypocrites, when they are in government or line up behind candidates lacking in ideas, never mention Minimum Wages for workers, NEVER!”
He ended the post with the hashtag #SOWORE2027, underscoring his continued political advocacy ahead of the 2027 general election.