Sowore Backs NLC, TUC ₦500,000 Minimum Wage Demand, Urges Workers to Fight for Living Wage

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has welcomed the recent demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for a new national minimum wage, saying it aligns with the position his party has consistently advocated.

Reacting in a statement on Friday, Sowore described the labour unions’ call for a ₦500,000 minimum wage as both necessary and long overdue, arguing that Nigeria’s worsening economic situation has made the current wage structure unsustainable for millions of workers.

He noted that the African Action Congress had long maintained that Nigerian workers deserve a living wage capable of meeting the realities of rising inflation, food prices, transportation costs and other basic expenses.

“It is encouraging that the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement, the NLC and TUC, have finally arrived at the same position the AAC adopted long ago,” Sowore said.

According to him, Nigerian workers deserve a national minimum wage of not less than ₦500,000, insisting that such a figure reflects the country’s current economic realities and the soaring cost of living.

Sowore argued that with labour unions and his party now sharing the same position, the next step should be sustained action to ensure the demand is achieved.

“Now that there is consensus, the focus must shift from declarations to action,” he stated.

The former presidential candidate urged workers across the country to unite in pursuit of what he described as a genuine living wage, adding that improving workers’ welfare should remain a national priority.

He also called on Nigerians to support leaders committed to protecting workers’ interests rather than politicians who, according to him, have consistently implemented policies that worsen the living conditions of ordinary citizens.

“We must vote for leaders who genuinely want the betterment of Nigerian workers, not those who have consistently treated workers as enemies,” he said.

Sowore has repeatedly argued that if elected president in 2027, his administration would implement a ₦500,000 national minimum wage as part of broader reforms aimed at improving workers’ welfare and reducing poverty.

His latest comments come days after organised labour renewed calls for a substantial review of the national minimum wage, citing inflation, the rising cost of living and the declining purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

The debate over workers’ wages has intensified in recent months, with labour leaders insisting that salaries must reflect prevailing economic realities to enable workers meet their basic needs.

Winca Lab Unveils Circular Design Initiative, Turning Textile and Furniture Waste Into Sustainable Art

A new African sustainability startup, Winca Lab, has officially launched with a mission to transform discarded textile and furniture materials into premium circular art, offering an innovative solution to waste management while contributing to global climate action.

Founded by Nigerian creative entrepreneur Ayoola Ojo, Winca Lab is championing the principles of the circular economy by collecting fabric offcuts, leather remnants and furniture production scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills, open dumps or be burned, releasing harmful carbon emissions into the environment.

Speaking on the company’s vision, Ojo questioned the fate of millions of tons of production waste generated daily by the fashion and furniture industries.

“What actually happens to fabric offcuts after those beautiful clothes are made? What happens to leather, foam, textile, fabric and furniture pieces left behind after production? Are they burned? Are they discarded? Or do they end up in gutters, landfills or open fires, silently increasing carbon emissions and worsening climate change?” he asked.

Turning Waste into Value

According to the founder, Winca Lab believes waste should never be the end of a product’s journey.

Instead, the company collects discarded materials from fashion designers, furniture manufacturers and other creative businesses, transforming them into contemporary art pieces and functional designs that combine sustainability, culture and creativity.

“We collect fabric and furniture offcuts, then transform them into premium and contemporary pieces, bold, cultural, sustainable and beautiful,” Ojo explained.

He described the process as circular design, where materials that would normally be discarded are given a second life through creative innovation.

Promoting Climate Action Through Creativity

The company says its approach aligns with global efforts to reduce waste, promote responsible consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fashion and manufacturing industries.

By reusing production leftovers instead of allowing them to become environmental waste, Winca Lab aims to reduce pressure on landfills while encouraging more sustainable production practices across Africa.

“This is responsible consumption. This is climate action through creativity,” Ojo said.

“We are turning discarded materials into value, reducing waste, supporting sustainability and proving that African innovation can speak to the global future.”

A Call to Fashion and Manufacturing Industries

As part of its launch, Winca Lab has called on fashion designers, furniture companies, manufacturers and creative brands to rethink how they handle production offcuts.

The company is encouraging businesses to partner with circular economy initiatives instead of disposing of valuable materials.

“So, what we are asking the world, fashion designers, furniture companies, manufacturers and creative brands, is simply this: What do you currently do with your offcuts? Would you rather throw them away or see them reborn as art?” Ojo asked.

Driving Africa’s Circular Economy

As governments and organizations worldwide push for more sustainable production methods, circular economy businesses like Winca Lab are emerging as key players in reducing environmental pollution while creating new economic opportunities.

Through its waste-to-art model, the startup hopes to demonstrate that creativity and sustainability can work together to address one of the world’s growing environmental challenges.

With its launch, Winca Lab positions itself as one of Africa’s emerging innovators using design, recycling and environmental responsibility to reshape how production waste is perceived and utilized.

Winca Lab Joins a Growing Global Circular Economy Movement

Across the world, several innovative companies are proving that waste can become valuable products through circular design and sustainable manufacturing.

In the United States, Patagonia repairs, resells and recycles used outdoor clothing through its Worn Wear programme, extending the lifespan of garments and reducing textile waste.

Rothy’s, another American company, transforms recycled plastic bottles into fashionable shoes, bags and accessories, preventing millions of plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.

In the Netherlands, Auping manufactures mattresses designed for complete recycling at the end of their lifespan, while Fairphone builds smartphones using recycled and responsibly sourced materials to reduce electronic waste.

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has also embraced circularity by introducing furniture buy-back programmes, using recycled materials and aiming to become a fully circular business.

In Africa, Ghana-based The Revival Earth converts discarded textiles into handcrafted home décor and lifestyle products, while Kenya’s Ocean Sole transforms abandoned flip-flops collected from beaches into colorful sculptures, toys and artworks sold around the world.

Similarly, Nigerian companies are beginning to embrace circular innovation by turning discarded tyres into furniture, converting plastic waste into paving stones and producing eco-friendly products from agricultural waste.

Like these organizations, Winca Lab seeks to demonstrate that fashion and furniture waste can become valuable artistic and functional products instead of contributing to environmental pollution.

“Our goal is to show that creativity can drive sustainability while creating economic opportunities,” founder Ayoola Ojo said.

Sowore: We Proposed ₦100,000 Wage in 2019, ₦250,000 in 2023, Now Nigeria Is Catching Up

African Action Congress (AAC) leader and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has argued that his previous proposals on Nigeria’s minimum wage have consistently been dismissed, only for similar figures to later be adopted or considered by the government.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Sowore said his movement proposed a ₦100,000 national minimum wage in 2019, but critics at the time argued that such an increase would fuel inflation and destabilise the economy.

According to him, those same arguments have since weakened following the approval of a ₦100,000 minimum wage for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces in 2026.

“We proposed a ₦100,000 minimum wage in 2019. They said it would cause inflation.

“In 2026, they approved a minimum wage of ₦100,000 for soldiers,” he wrote.

Sowore also recalled that during the 2023 general election campaign, he proposed a ₦250,000 national minimum wage, a suggestion he said was widely criticised by political opponents and government supporters.

“We proposed a ₦250,000 minimum wage in 2023. They claimed it would destroy the economy.

“Now, in 2026, they are proposing ₦250,000,” he stated.

Building on those arguments, the former presidential candidate announced a fresh proposal, calling for a ₦500,000 minimum and living wage for Nigerian workers.

According to Sowore, the country’s economic realities, rising inflation and increasing cost of living require wages that go beyond helping workers survive.

“Today, we are proposing a ₦500,000 minimum and living wage because Nigerians deserve not just to survive, but to live with dignity,” he said.

Sowore argued that successive governments have often been slow to respond to the economic challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians, saying policies are frequently introduced years after they are first proposed by others.

“They are always years behind the realities facing our people. We lead with ideas; they eventually follow,” he added.

The AAC leader also criticised political actors whom he described as hypocritical, alleging that many fail to advocate improved wages for workers until they assume public office or align with governments.

“These hypocrites, when they are in government or line up behind candidates lacking in ideas, never mention minimum wages for workers, never,” Sowore said.

The remarks come amid ongoing national conversations over workers’ welfare, rising inflation and demands from labour groups for improved wages to reflect Nigeria’s current economic conditions.

While Sowore maintains that a ₦500,000 living wage is necessary to restore workers’ purchasing power and improve living standards, the proposal is likely to generate fresh debate over its feasibility, funding and potential economic impact.

Ghana’s Per Capita Income Hits Record $3,385 as Nearly One Million People Escape Poverty – Finance Minister

Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the country’s per capita income recorded a historic increase in 2025, rising by more than $850 in just one year as unemployment and multidimensional poverty declined significantly.

Speaking while presenting the country’s economic update to Parliament, Dr Forson said Ghana’s per capita income increased from $2,527 in 2024 to $3,385 by the end of 2025, describing it as the highest ever recorded in the nation’s history.

According to the Finance Minister, the achievement has also positioned Ghana as the eighth-largest economy in Africa, reflecting the country’s improving economic performance.

“Mr. Speaker, Ghana’s per capita income increased by more than $850 in just one year, rising from $2,527 in 2024 to $3,385 at the end of 2025. This is the highest per capita income ever recorded in our country’s history,” Dr Forson said.

“It is therefore not surprising that Ghana is now recognized as the eighth-largest economy in Africa.”

He emphasized that the figures represent real improvements in the lives of Ghanaians rather than mere economic statistics.

“These are not mere statistics. They represent higher incomes, stronger businesses, greater opportunities, and an economy with an enhanced capacity to invest in its people,” he added.

Dr Forson also highlighted improvements in Ghana’s labour market, revealing that the unemployment rate declined from 13.7 percent during the first three quarters of 2024 to 12.8 percent over the same period in 2025.

According to him, the country also recorded a notable reduction in multidimensional poverty, which measures deprivation across living conditions, education, healthcare and employment.

The multidimensional poverty rate fell from 24.9 percent in the third quarter of 2024 to 21.9 percent in the third quarter of 2025.

He said the improvement means that approximately 950,000 Ghanaians moved out of multidimensional poverty within a single year.

“Behind these statistics are the hundreds of thousands of families who now enjoy better living conditions and greater hope for the future,” the Finance Minister told lawmakers.

The latest economic figures come as Ghana continues implementing reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal stability, attracting investment and improving living standards after years of economic challenges.

The government maintains that prudent economic management and ongoing reforms have begun yielding positive results, with improvements reflected in income levels, employment and poverty reduction.

The announcement is expected to reinforce confidence in Ghana’s economic recovery and may serve as a benchmark for other African countries pursuing similar fiscal and structural reforms.

FG Unveils Five Flagship Programmes to Boost Human Capital Development

The Federal Government has launched five flagship programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of Nigerians through investments in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and community development.

The initiatives were unveiled in Abuja during the Presidential Launch of the Federal Government’s Flagship Programmes, with Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Oyedele said the programmes reflect the administration’s commitment to building a stronger economy by investing in people and expanding opportunities for citizens across the country.

According to him, the initiatives are designed to strengthen human capital development, enhance community resilience and promote inclusive economic growth.

He noted that the programmes will focus on equipping Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities needed to improve their livelihoods while helping vulnerable communities become more resilient.

Oyedele said the launch marks another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to implement policies that directly impact citizens, adding that sustainable development can only be achieved through strategic investments in people.

The Federal Government expressed optimism that the flagship programmes would accelerate national development, reduce poverty and create a more inclusive economy capable of delivering long-term benefits to Nigerians.

Further details on the five flagship programmes and their implementation are expected to be released by the government.