Minimum Wage: Labour Leaders Betrayed Workers, Priotised Personal Interests During Negotiation – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused labour leaders of betraying workers by prioritising personal interests over collective welfare when negotiating the current minimum wage.
Obasanjo criticised the N70,000 new minimum wage approved for workers by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as grossly inadequate to cover workers’ basic needs, including transportation, food, and housing.
Obasanjo who stated this in his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future”, said, “That is the situation in Nigeria in the third decade of the 21st century.
“The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep.”
The former president in Chapter 17 of the book, accused labour leader of neglecting leaders while pursuing personal interests.
“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.
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“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?
“Because of their political ambitions, most union leaders are ineffective compared to the founding fathers’ expectations.
“The workers thereby become victims of selfish leaders who use their positions to achieve political heights.
“Rather than negotiate in the interest of the workers, they do sabre-rattling and they are called into the room and money in large amounts is stuffed into their hands and they keep quiet.
“That has been the case since 2015. And, if anything, it is going from bad to worse.”
Obasanjo also criticised government officials who openly admitted to paying off labour leaders to stop agitation.
“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.”
While acknowledging that anyone has the right to pursue politics, Obasanjo argued that it was unethical for labour leaders to use their unions as platforms for political advancement, as it creates a conflict of interest.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
