The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed calls for an increase in the national minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000, insisting that the proposed amount is insufficient to meet the needs of Nigerian workers amid worsening economic conditions.
Speaking on the proposal, NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, described the suggestion by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as commendable but inadequate.
According to him, the combined effects of inflation, naira depreciation, rising fuel prices, higher electricity tariffs, and the growing cost of living have significantly eroded workers’ purchasing power.
Upah argued that a more realistic minimum wage should be around ₦1 million, stressing that workers deserve compensation that reflects current economic realities.
He noted that government revenues have improved in recent years and maintained that paying workers a higher wage should not be impossible for federal and state governments.
The debate followed a recommendation by AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider raising the minimum wage to ₦100,000.
Nigeria’s current minimum wage of ₦70,000 was signed into law in 2024, replacing the previous ₦30,000 wage approved during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari. The law provides for periodic reviews every three years.
