Former Nigerian President who ruled the country between 1999 and 2007, Olusegun Obasanjo, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and labour union leaders over the minimum wage.
In his recently published book titled “Nigeria: Past and Future”, Obasanjo described the minimum wage as poor and insufficient to meet the needs of the country’s working population.
“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” the former president wrote in his book.
He also blamed labour union leaders for prioritising their personal interests over the welfare of their members.
“Workers need more attention than they are getting. It is their right, and they have been denied it for too long. They have become victims of those meant to protect their interests.
“How did it happen that a trade union leader, while in office, was negotiating with a political party to be adopted as a gubernatorial candidate,” he questioned.
His book also criticised politicians who pay off labour union leaders to stop agitating and demanding members’ interests.
“How do we explain a senior official close to the President saying, ‘We have paid them to keep quiet and stop agitating’?
“What contributions are such labour leaders and their unions making to the country’s progress? You do not get the best from a frustrated and depressed worker.”
Obasanjo described labour union leaders’ pursuit of political power as unethical and proposed a law that would deter them from vying for political offices.
He suggested that labour leaders wait at least five years before vying for political posts after leaving office(Guardian)
