Omoyele Sowore, the human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has made sweeping promises ahead of the 2027 general elections, including a minimum wage of N500,000, an end to worker casualisation, and the construction of one million public homes.
Unveiling parts of his political agenda, Sowore stated that Nigeria requires radical economic and social reforms to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. He argued that workers in the country are currently underpaid despite rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
Minimum wage proposal
Sowore declared that a N500,000 minimum wage would help workers cope with the harsh economic realities facing millions of Nigerians. He emphasised that the current national minimum wage remains far below this figure, making his proposal one of the most ambitious economic pledges by a Nigerian politician in recent years.
Ending casualisation
The activist also pledged to end the practice of casualisation, where companies employ workers on temporary or unstable contracts without full employment benefits. He noted that many Nigerian workers have remained trapped in poor working conditions for years despite contributing significantly to the economy.
Massive housing programme
In addition to labour reforms, Sowore promised a massive public housing programme aimed at constructing one million homes for Nigerians. According to him, this project would help reduce homelessness and provide affordable accommodation for low- and middle-income earners. The proposed homes would be publicly funded and designed to support struggling Nigerians facing high rent and poor living conditions.
Sowore has repeatedly criticised both past and present administrations over economic hardship, unemployment, and rising poverty levels. He insisted that Nigeria has enough resources to improve living standards if corruption and wasteful government spending are tackled.
While supporters praised the promises as people-focused, critics questioned how such programmes would be funded and implemented given Nigeria's economic challenges and debt profile. Sowore previously contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections under the African Action Congress platform.
