Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, has outlined an ambitious economic and power-sector agenda, including a proposed minimum wage of ₦500,000 and a commitment to achieving 24-hour electricity supply if elected.
Sowore said the proposed wage policy would be aimed at improving the purchasing power and living standards of Nigerian workers while responding to the rising cost of food, transportation, housing and other essential goods and services.
According to the proposal, increasing workers’ incomes would form part of a broader strategy to strengthen household purchasing power and stimulate economic activity. The policy would, however, require careful fiscal planning, particularly in relation to government revenue, public-sector wage bills and the ability of businesses to sustain higher labour costs.
On electricity, Sowore pledged to pursue a major reform of Nigeria’s power sector with the objective of ensuring reliable electricity supply around the clock.
He said stable electricity would be critical to reducing the cost of doing business, supporting manufacturing, expanding small and medium-sized enterprises and improving productivity across the economy.
The proposed 24-hour electricity agenda would require significant investment in power generation, transmission and distribution, alongside reforms designed to reduce technical and commercial losses within the electricity value chain.
Sowore’s broader economic position centres on using government policy to address unemployment, poverty and declining living standards while creating an environment in which businesses can operate more efficiently.
The proposed ₦500,000 minimum wage would represent a substantial increase from existing wage levels and could have significant implications for both federal and state governments, as well as private-sector employers. Implementation would therefore depend on the structure of the policy, revenue mobilisation and negotiations with organised labour and employers.
Similarly, delivering uninterrupted electricity nationwide would require substantial infrastructure investment and effective coordination among government institutions, power-generation companies, transmission operators, distribution companies and other stakeholders.
The pledges form part of the political debate expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with economic management, workers’ welfare, electricity supply and the cost of living likely to remain major issues for Nigerian voters.
If implemented, the proposals would represent major policy changes with potentially wide-ranging consequences for workers, businesses, government finances and the broader Nigerian economy.
Sowore is expected to provide further details on the funding mechanisms, implementation timetable and institutional reforms that would underpin the proposed policies as the 2027 political process progresses.