In a country where leadership often forgets the silent engines that drive national progress—its workers—President Muhammadu Buhari stood out.
While he was not without his flaws, and not every policy struck gold, we at Guarantor Pay join millions of civil servants, professionals, and wage earners across Nigeria to say “Thank you, Baba Buhari”—not as politicians do, but as a player in providing workers need who felt your impact directly.
For Us, You Were Different.
Before Buhari, the National Housing Fund was a ceremonial program with no life—just one of many paper promises. But under his watch, the dreams of many Nigerian workers moved from boardrooms to building sites. The Family Homes Fund loan came alive, and for the first time in decades, federal workers saw housing projects with real foundations, not just political ones.
He made the ₦30,000 minimum wage a reality, not a campaign chant. He implemented it quickly, paid arrears without waiting for strikes, and gave Nigerian workers a reason to believe that their sweat meant something to the people at the top.
In 2023, without a single protest or negotiation table, Buhari approved a 40% Peculiar Allowance—a buffer that softened the blow of economic headwinds like inflation. In his own quiet, firm way, he showed that government can be proactive and fair.
He Didn’t Just Rule—He Respected Us.
President Buhari was no orator. He didn’t flood headlines with sweet words. But his actions spoke volumes. During the COVID-19 lockdown, when global economies collapsed and paychecks dried up, Nigerian federal workers were still paid—fully, on time, and without panic. He managed that crisis not with fanfare but with discipline, planning, and commitment to public welfare.
Even when the Naira was under pressure, Buhari resisted the temptation to default on wage obligations. As many African countries stumbled, he kept salaries flowing—and in doing so, kept homes running and hopes alive.
In an age where public office often leads to personal empires, Buhari remained an anomaly. He maintained a single bank account with Union Bank throughout his life, shunned flamboyance, and refused to convert public resources into family wealth. No scandal, no offshore leaks, no billion-naira mansions linked to his name.
Yes, some around him fell short, but he never joined them. And that matters.
As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) noted in their statement, “Buhari may not have pleased all sectors, but he never forgot the worker.”
The International Labour Organization (ILO) also acknowledged Nigeria under Buhari for “upholding the dignity of labour through formal protections, despite economic constraints.”
Even former critic and civil society leader, Aisha Yesufu, admitted: “He didn’t steal. That’s rare. And that alone is a legacy.”
Because for once, we had a leader who did not ask for praise before doing what was right. Because under him, civil servants were no longer afterthoughts. Because he put policies in motion—like wage reviews, allowances, affordable housing, and pension discipline—that have long-term benefits far beyond his time in office.
Because he wasn’t perfect—but he was honest, and in this system, that’s revolutionary.
Rest Well, Baba Buhari.
From all of us at GuarantorPay.ng,
We salute your service.
We honour your legacy.
And above all,
We thank you—as party to the Nigerian workers.
