Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has urged the Nigerian government to adopt a minimum wage of ₦500,000, arguing that workers deserve fair compensation amid rising living costs. He made this statement on May 28, 2026, via his X (formerly Twitter) account, stressing that the amount is not excessive given the current economic realities.
Sowore Highlights Critical Sectors
Sowore specifically called attention to workers in essential roles, including police officers, soldiers, teachers, doctors, nurses, and other public servants. He emphasized that these groups not only require a living wage but also deserve additional allowances to account for the risks and sacrifices inherent in their duties.
“A minimum wage of ₦500,000 is not too much for Nigerian workers. Police officers, soldiers, teachers, doctors, nurses, and other public servants deserve a living wage and those in critical sectors must earn additional allowances for the risks, sacrifices, and essential services they provide,” Sowore wrote.
The proposal comes as many Nigerians struggle with inflation and escalating costs of basic necessities. Sowore’s statement adds momentum to ongoing discussions about wage reform and the need to ensure workers can maintain a decent standard of living.
Background on Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore is a prominent Nigerian activist, journalist, and politician. He is best known as the founder of Sahara Reporters and the leader of the African Action Congress (AAC). Born on February 16, 1971, in Ondo State, he studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos, where he served as president of the Student Union Government from 1992 to 1994. His activism often led to clashes with authorities, resulting in arrests and suspensions. He later earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University in the United States.
Sowore founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, an online news platform based in New York that focuses on exposing corruption and abuse of power in Nigeria. The platform gained influence for its fearless investigative journalism. In 2018, he established the African Action Congress (AAC) and contested the 2019 presidential election, finishing fifth with 33,953 votes. He ran again in 2023, securing 14,608 votes. Despite limited electoral success, Sowore remains a vocal opposition figure.
Recent AAC Presidential Primary
In related news, the AAC held its presidential primary in Abuja on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The event took place at the National Centre for Women Development in the Central Business District. Videos shared on X showed a hall filled with young people awaiting the start of the exercise. A voice in one video indicated that the primary would begin in a few hours and that members were waiting for the party’s National Working Committee.
