The Director of the Ilorin Business School at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Ismaila Bolarinwa Kadiri, has urged stakeholders to align workers’ pay with the rising cost of living, warning that wage inadequacy continues to undermine employee welfare.
Kadiri made the call on February 12, 2026, while delivering the university’s 296th Inaugural Lecture, titled “Let My Wage Take Me Home: Issues and Controversies,” at the University Auditorium.
He stressed the need for periodic reviews of the minimum wage to enable workers to afford basic necessities, noting that the gap between wages and living costs must be addressed through structured negotiations among government, employers and labour representatives.
According to him, deliberate steps must be taken to prevent poverty among the employed, adding that fair remuneration is essential to ensuring dignity in the workplace.
Kadiri highlighted the impact of inflation on earnings, calling for measures to curb rising prices so that wage increases can have meaningful effect. He also advocated stronger social safety nets, including healthcare, housing support and food security programmes, to cushion financial hardship.
The professor further urged employers to integrate corporate social responsibility into their policies by adopting fair wage practices and investing in workers’ well-being, arguing that a well-compensated workforce is critical to long-term organisational success.
He proposed stricter enforcement of annual leave, suggesting automatic approval with full payment of leave allowances to promote workers’ health and improve productivity. He said such measures would encourage timely resumption and reduce burnout.
Kadiri also called for sustained public awareness campaigns on wage insufficiency and systemic reforms to prevent industrial disputes. “The measure of a society’s progress is not merely in its economic indicators but also in the well-being of its people,” he said.
The lecture was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), represented by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Biodun Sulyman Alabi. Dignitaries in attendance included representatives of the Kwara State Governor and other academic and community leaders.
