Sowore Pledges ₦500,000 Minimum Wage and 24-Hour Electricity if Elected in 2027

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has promised to introduce a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage for Nigerian workers and provide 24-hour electricity if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Sowore outlined the promises as part of his party’s agenda ahead of the presidential contest, presenting them as measures aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure and the rising cost of living.

His proposals place wages and electricity at the centre of his campaign message at a time when both issues remain major concerns for Nigerian households and businesses.

Sowore’s ₦500,000 Wage Proposal

The proposed ₦500,000 monthly wage would represent a substantial increase from Nigeria’s current statutory national minimum wage.

Nigeria’s current national minimum wage is ₦70,000, following the 2024 increase approved by the Federal Government. Sowore’s proposal would therefore be more than seven times the current national minimum.

Sowore has previously argued that Nigerian workers deserve significantly higher wages because of the cost of living.

In September, he also defended the proposal against concerns that a large wage increase could contribute to inflation, arguing that political office holders receive considerably higher incomes.

However, proposing a new minimum wage and implementing it are different matters.

A national wage policy would have implications for federal, state and local governments, as well as private-sector employers whose employees fall under the applicable wage framework.

The Difference Between a Campaign Promise and Government Policy

Sowore’s ₦500,000 figure should therefore be understood as a campaign pledge, not an existing government policy.

For such a wage to become reality, a future administration would have to determine how it could be financed and implemented without creating unsustainable pressure on public finances or businesses.

Higher wages can increase workers’ purchasing power, but a rapid increase in labour costs can also create challenges for employers and government budgets.

The economic effect would depend on factors including productivity, inflation, government revenue, employment levels and how the policy was introduced.

Sowore has presented the proposal as part of a broader attempt to give workers what he calls a living wage.

Sowore Also Promises 24-Hour Electricity

Electricity is another major part of the AAC candidate’s campaign platform.

Sowore has promised that his administration would deliver 24-hour electricity, making reliable power supply one of the central infrastructure commitments of his campaign.

Nigeria’s electricity system currently operates far below that standard for many consumers.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s service-based tariff framework classifies electricity customers according to minimum service levels. Band A customers are expected to receive at least 20 hours of supply per day, while lower bands have lower minimum supply requirements.

That means 24-hour nationwide supply would require a substantial improvement in generation, transmission, distribution and the reliability of the entire electricity value chain.

Why Electricity Is Central to the Economy

Reliable electricity affects almost every part of Nigeria’s economy.

Manufacturers require dependable power for production. Small businesses often rely on generators when public supply is unavailable. Shops, offices and households also face additional costs when they have to provide alternative electricity sources.

For businesses, reducing dependence on diesel and petrol generators could lower operating costs.

For households, more reliable electricity could reduce the need to purchase fuel or alternative power equipment.

This explains why electricity remains a politically powerful issue.

However, delivering 24-hour electricity across the country would involve more than increasing generation alone.

Generation Is Only One Part of the Problem

Electricity has to pass through several stages before it reaches consumers.

Power must be generated, transmitted across the national grid and distributed through networks operated by distribution companies.

A weakness at any stage can affect consumers.

Additional generation capacity without adequate transmission infrastructure would not necessarily produce reliable electricity at the household level. Likewise, stronger distribution networks would not solve shortages of available power generation.

Sowore’s promise therefore represents a broad infrastructure objective rather than a single policy intervention.

The details of how his administration would achieve it would be important for voters evaluating the proposal.

Other Promises in the AAC Agenda

Sowore’s campaign platform extends beyond wages and electricity.

Reports on his latest agenda say he has also promised free education, one million mixed-income housing units, tenant-law reforms, universal healthcare and expanded agricultural and industrial development.

The proposals are designed around a broader argument that government should provide stronger social and economic support to Nigerians.

Housing is particularly significant because rising accommodation costs have become a major concern for many households.

The proposed one million homes would therefore represent another large-scale public investment commitment.

As with the wage proposal, the central policy question would be how such a programme would be financed, delivered and maintained.

Sowore’s Position on Fuel Subsidy

The AAC candidate has also taken a different position from the current federal government’s approach to petrol subsidy.

In a September 10 interview, Sowore said that if elected he would restore the subsidy and argued that money currently leaving the country through what he described as capital flight should instead benefit Nigerians.

This places his economic programme in contrast with President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy after taking office in 2023.

Sowore’s position suggests that his proposed wage increases and social programmes would form part of a broader restructuring of government spending and economic policy.

The financial implications would therefore need to be assessed across the entire programme rather than by looking at the ₦500,000 wage promise alone.

The 2027 Election Is Already Taking Shape

Sowore’s announcement comes as presidential contenders begin presenting competing visions ahead of the 2027 election.

The campaign environment is increasingly focused on concrete promises concerning wages, electricity, housing, security and the cost of living.

Other candidates and political parties have also begun putting forward large-scale economic and infrastructure proposals.

That means voters are likely to face competing claims about what can realistically be achieved during a four-year presidential term.

The ability of candidates to explain how their promises would be funded and implemented could become as important as the promises themselves.

What Would a ₦500,000 Wage Mean?

If implemented nationally, a ₦500,000 minimum wage would dramatically change the income floor for eligible workers.

But the effect would not necessarily be limited to workers’ paycheques.

Employers could face higher labour costs, while government would have to account for the impact on its own wage bill.

Businesses could respond differently depending on their size and ability to absorb higher costs. Some could increase prices, invest in productivity or reduce hiring, while others might benefit from stronger consumer demand generated by higher incomes.

The final economic outcome would therefore depend heavily on the design and implementation of the policy.

The Bigger Question Is Implementation

Sowore’s campaign promises are ambitious.

A ₦500,000 minimum wage, 24-hour electricity, one million homes, expanded public services and other commitments would require substantial financial resources and administrative capacity.

That does not by itself establish that the proposals are impossible.

It does mean that implementation details matter.

Voters would need to know how much the policies would cost, where the money would come from, what laws or institutions would need to change and how the government would measure progress.

Those questions will become increasingly important as the 2027 election campaign develops.

What Comes Next

Sowore has now put a clear set of economic and social promises before voters.

The ₦500,000 minimum wage is intended to address workers’ purchasing power, while the 24-hour electricity pledge targets one of Nigeria’s longest-running infrastructure problems.

Both proposals appeal directly to everyday economic concerns.

But the election debate will ultimately have to move beyond the size of the promises and towards the practical question of delivery.

For Sowore, the challenge will be to demonstrate how his administration would finance and implement the programme. For voters, the challenge will be to compare those plans with the proposals and records of the other candidates competing for the presidency in 2027.