Former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has criticized the recent minimum wage increase to N85,000 announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, labeling it unrealistic in light of Lagos’ rising cost of living.
In a series of tweets on Friday, while commending the wage hike as a step in the right direction, Rhodes-Vivour argued that it falls short of addressing the unique financial challenges faced by workers in Lagos. He noted that the state has the highest intra-city public transportation costs, is the second most expensive city for food, and has the highest rental costs in Nigeria, with insufficient investments in social housing programs.
Rhodes-Vivour further challenged the governor to prioritize investments that would have a tangible impact on residents’ lives, emphasizing that despite higher state budgets, living conditions for Lagosians have not improved significantly.
He pointed out that over 70% of Lagos State’s operating revenue comes from taxes, with Pay As You Earn (PAYE) contributing 45%, and questioned the tangible benefits citizens receive for their contributions. He raised concerns about public education, transportation, infrastructure, and access to social housing and capital for entrepreneurship.
While acknowledging the recent opening of the blue rail line, Rhodes-Vivour questioned the overall vision for the city’s future, stating that Lagos lags behind its African counterparts. He concluded by stressing that comparing Lagos to less developed states like Bauchi or Ekiti lacks foresight.
