By Milcah Tanimu
Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor, voiced concerns over Nigeria’s wage exploitation, stressing its impact on national security and economic stability. During a lecture at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja, he urged for fair wages to motivate workers and reduce their vulnerability to manipulation and radicalization.
He emphasized that inflation has weakened workers’ purchasing power, leaving them financially worse off despite recent minimum wage increases. Oshiomhole also noted that the wide wage gap between high and low earners deepens worker dissatisfaction, which could lead to social unrest.
“The minimum wage should protect vulnerable workers, but it often lacks enforcement,” Oshiomhole said. He warned that setting wages too low exploits workers, while excessively high rates could lead to job cuts. Rising inflation, he added, now leaves many workers poorer than previous generations, despite nominal wage adjustments.
