The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government workers have urged the federal government to urgently review the national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 benchmark is no longer sustainable due to rising inflation.
The call comes as several Nigerian states have already unilaterally raised their minimum wages above the federal threshold in response to the escalating cost of living.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah lamented the impact of inflation on workers. He said inflation has eroded the value of the N70,000 minimum wage, leaving many workers unable to meet basic needs. He warned that unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen.
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President Bola Tinubu had in July 2024 signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law, raising the wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The law applies nationwide, covering federal and state employees, local government staff, and private sector workers.
However, since then, several states have set higher wage floors. Imo State raised its minimum wage to N104,000 in August 2024, while Lagos and Rivers states approved N85,000 in October, with Lagos pledging an increase to N100,000 in 2025.
Other states have also moved above the federal benchmark. Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom pegged theirs at N80,000, Ogun and Delta fixed N77,000, Benue and Osun approved N75,000, while Ondo set N73,000.
Labour leaders insist that the federal government must follow suit to cushion the effects of inflation and ensure workers across the country can survive the current economic hardship.