Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced a new minimum wage of N85,000 for workers in the state. While commending the move, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate, argues that the amount falls short of addressing the high cost of living in Lagos.

Rhodes-Vivour emphasized that a minimum wage of at least N100,000 is necessary to match the standards of other states, considering Lagos’ expensive transportation, rent, and food costs.

He criticized Governor Sanwo-Olu’s boasts about increasing the state’s budget from N600 billion to over N1 trillion, questioning the tangible benefits for Lagosians.

In a series of tweets, Rhodes-Vivour highlighted the state’s shortcomings:

– Poor infrastructure
– Low investment in human capital and education
– Struggling public transportation network
– Increasing slums and informal communities
– Limited social welfare programs

He stressed that the state’s wealth, primarily generated by citizens’ taxes, should be invested in public goods and services.

Rhodes-Vivour also lamented the slow development rate in Lagos, attributing it to the ruling All Progressives Congress’s 24-year tenure.

“Lagos should strive to lead Africa, not compare itself to smaller states,” Rhodes-Vivour concluded, urging the government to prioritize meaningful progress over boasts about budget growth.