Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has pledged to introduce a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage for Nigerian workers if elected president in the 2027 general elections.

In an interview with Independent, Sowore also promised that an AAC-led government would provide 24-hour electricity, make education free and accessible at all levels, build one million public mixed-income homes and reform tenancy laws to end excessive advance rent demands.

He said the AAC’s agenda was based on “revolutionary justice and equal rights”, arguing that Nigeria’s abundant resources had failed to translate into improved living conditions because of corruption and poor governance.

“We are proposing a ₦500,000 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 also pledged to tackle the power crisis and provide uninterrupted electricity.

“We will deliver 24-hour electricity because no serious industrial economy can operate permanently on generators. Education will be free and accessible at all levels, and no Nigerian child should be denied education because his or her parents are poor,” he said.

On housing and healthcare, he promised to build one million public mixed-income homes and reform tenancy laws to reduce the burden of paying one or two years’ rent in advance.

“We will embark on the construction of one million public mixed income homes while reforming tenancy laws so that working people are not forced to pay one or two years of rent in advance. Healthcare must become a right, not a privilege reserved for people who can afford medical tourism,” he said.

He also promised to prioritise industrialisation, agriculture, infrastructure and employment, while proposing reforms to policing and the wider security architecture.

“We will reform policing and security, properly compensate security personnel and deploy modern technology, including drones and advanced intelligence systems, to confront insecurity,” he said.

Sowore further pledged an uncompromising anti-corruption campaign and the recovery of public resources allegedly stolen by political officeholders.

“We will wage an uncompromising war against corruption and recover public resources stolen by political officeholders. Nigeria’s wealth must work for Nigerians,” he said.

He said the AAC would run a “people funded campaign” for the 2027 election, relying on contributions from ordinary Nigerians rather than wealthy individuals and political patrons.

Sowore also said Nigerians were “more ready than ever” for a leftist government, arguing that successive capitalist administrations had failed to adequately address poverty and inequality.

“Our socialism is practical. It means the wealth produced by society must improve the lives of the people who produce it. It means universal education, healthcare, decent housing, electricity, living wages and social protection,” he said.

“It means workers deserve dignity. It means Nigeria’s natural resources belong to Nigerians rather than a handful of politically connected billionaires.”

He 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 and assess economic decisions based on their impact on Nigerians’ material conditions.

On security arrangements for the 2027 campaign, Sowore said he would demand professionalism from security agencies and insist on exercising 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.

“I have been arrested, detained, prosecuted and attacked under different governments…”