Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has sparked heated reactions after declaring that truck drivers in his company earn higher salaries than many university graduates.
Speaking in response to allegations by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Dangote dismissed concerns over job losses linked to the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks at his refinery. Instead, he claimed the new trucks would create 24,000 jobs, each requiring six personnel.
“Our drivers earn more than graduates. If you check their monthly pay, it’s almost four times the minimum wage,” Dangote said in a video shared by TVC on Tuesday. He added that drivers with five years of accident-free service also qualify for housing loans.
But the remarks have ignited debates online, with critics arguing that the statement exposes the country’s broken wage system, where graduates spend years in school only to earn less than truck operators. Others point to Nigeria’s rising unemployment and poor graduate remuneration as evidence of government failure to prioritise decent jobs.
The controversy comes amid NUPENG’s threats of a nationwide strike from September 8, accusing Dangote and his associate, Sayyu Dantata, of anti-union practices and attempts to dominate the oil and gas distribution sector.
While Dangote insists the new CNG trucks will expand opportunities, the billionaire’s claim about driver salaries has put a fresh spotlight on the value of higher education in Nigeria’s struggling economy.
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