PDP Challenges Kwara Labour Leaders to Demand Higher Minimum Wage

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on labour leaders in the state to push Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for an upward review of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, describing it as “lifeless and grossly inadequate.”

The opposition party’s demand followed the recent wage increase in Imo State, where Governor Hope Uzodimma announced a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for workers, up from ₦76,000.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, the PDP criticised Governor AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, for failing to lead by example in improving workers’ welfare.

“It is unacceptable that a corps member now earns more than a Grade Level 8 civil servant in Kwara,” the statement read. “The ₦70,000 minimum wage, introduced in October 2024, is the lowest among neighbouring states and has long been overtaken by the economic realities in Nigeria.”

The party argued that with the state’s increased federal allocations and robust Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), civil servants deserve a substantial raise. It accused the AbdulRazaq-led administration of neglecting workers while channeling resources into questionable projects, including ₦30 billion for hotel renovations, ₦1.4 billion for lawmakers’ cars, and ₦80 million vehicles for each local government chairman.

According to the PDP, Kwara can afford a minimum wage of at least ₦150,000 if workers’ welfare is prioritised. The party stressed that better pay would not only boost productivity but also stimulate the local economy and help curb insecurity.

The PDP urged labour leaders in the state to emulate their counterparts in Imo and demand a living wage that reflects current realities.

“Kwara must move away from tokenism. The current ₦70,000 wage cannot even cover a worker’s monthly transportation expenses,” the statement concluded.