…Vows to build one million homes, make education free
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has promised to introduce a N500,000 monthly living minimum wage for Nigerian workers if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Sowore, an activist and publisher, also pledged to provide 24-hour electricity, make education free and accessible at all levels, construct one million public mixed-income houses and reform tenancy laws to end the burden of excessive advance rent payments.
He made the promises in an interview with Independent, while outlining the AAC’s agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, Nigeria’s enormous wealth has not translated into improved living conditions for citizens because of corruption, poor governance and an economic system that favours a small political and business elite.
“Our agenda is revolutionary justice and equal rights. Nigeria is enormously wealthy, yet Nigerians have been deliberately impoverished through corruption, incompetence and an economic system designed to reward a tiny political and business elite.
“We are proposing a N500,000 monthly living minimum wage because Nigerian workers cannot continue receiving starvation wages while senators, governors and political appointees consume millions every month,” he said.
Sowore said an AAC-led government would prioritise reliable electricity, insisting that no serious industrial economy could continue to depend on generators.
He also promised free education at all levels, saying poverty should not prevent any Nigerian child from accessing quality education.
On housing, the AAC candidate pledged to construct one million public mixed-income homes and reform tenancy laws to stop workers from being compelled to pay one or two years’ rent in advance.
He added that healthcare would be treated as a right rather than a privilege for wealthy Nigerians who could afford medical treatment abroad.
Sowore further promised to industrialise the country, expand agricultural production and processing, rebuild infrastructure and create what he described as dignified employment opportunities.
On insecurity, he said his administration would reform the police and other security institutions, improve the welfare of personnel and deploy modern technology, including drones and advanced intelligence systems.
He also vowed to wage what he described as an uncompromising war against corruption and recover public resources allegedly stolen by political office holders.
“Nigeria’s wealth must work for Nigerians,” he said.
Sowore, who is among the 18 presidential candidates formally announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 election, said the AAC would run a “people-funded campaign” rather than depend on wealthy individuals, political patrons or godfathers.
The activist said Nigerians were now more receptive to a leftist government, arguing that decades of capitalist administrations had failed to tackle widespread poverty and inequality.
According to him, the AAC’s socialism would focus on universal education and healthcare, decent housing, electricity, living wages and social protection.
He said workers deserved dignity and Nigeria’s natural resources should benefit the general population rather than a few politically connected billionaires.
Sowore also criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying an AAC government would reverse what he described as the philosophy behind the current policies.
He said his government would assess economic policies based on their impact on the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
On the 2027 campaign and security agencies, Sowore said he would demand professionalism and insist on his constitutional rights.
“I have never asked Nigeria’s security agencies for favours. I demand professionalism. Police officers, soldiers and intelligence personnel are employees of the Nigerian people. They are not private security guards belonging to a president, governor, minister or ruling political party,” he said.
Sowore, who emerged as the AAC presidential candidate through consensus, said his previous experiences of arrest, detention, prosecution and attacks under different administrations had strengthened his resolve to continue challenging the political establishment.
Despite recording low votes in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, he expressed confidence that the AAC’s chances in 2027 were stronger than ever.
He attributed the optimism to the party’s independence from political godfathers, governors and wealthy patrons.
Sowore said the party would focus on grassroots mobilisation, with its campaign structures extending to wards, polling units, communities, campuses, markets and workplaces.
