The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed suggestions that a national minimum wage of N100,000 would adequately address the financial challenges facing Nigerian workers, arguing that a much higher figure is needed to reflect current economic realities.
Speaking in response to recent comments by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said that while the proposal represented an acknowledgment of workers’ struggles, it was far from sufficient.
According to Upah, the economic environment has changed dramatically over the past year, with inflation, rising fuel costs, higher electricity tariffs, and the continued depreciation of the naira placing enormous pressure on households across the country.
Governor AbdulRazaq had revealed that state governors were considering a new minimum wage benchmark of N100,000 as part of ongoing discussions with the Federal Government and organised labour. He explained that the proposal was designed to balance workers’ welfare with the financial realities facing state governments.
However, the NLC maintains that the suggested amount does not reflect the true cost of living in Nigeria today. Upah argued that workers are struggling to keep up with daily expenses as food prices, transportation costs, utility bills, and other essential services continue to rise.
He noted that if current economic conditions remain unchanged, a significantly higher wage would be required to restore the purchasing power of Nigerian workers. In his view, salaries should be adjusted to reflect the realities of inflation and the broader economic pressures affecting families nationwide.
The labour leader also pointed to recent increases in government revenue, including allocations shared through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), as evidence that governments may have greater capacity to improve workers’ earnings than is often acknowledged.
Beyond the debate over figures, Upah emphasized the importance of investing in the workforce, describing workers as one of the country’s most valuable assets. He argued that fair compensation is essential not only for improving living standards but also for boosting productivity and supporting long-term economic growth.
The conversation around wages has intensified in recent months as many Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of major economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market. These changes have contributed to higher living costs and increased pressure on household budgets.
Although the Federal Government approved a national minimum wage of N70,000 in July 2024 following extensive negotiations with labour unions, many workers and labour leaders believe that the value of that wage has been significantly eroded by inflation.
With prices continuing to rise across key sectors of the economy, calls for a fresh review of workers’ salaries are growing louder. Labour groups insist that any future wage structure must be based on present-day economic realities and the actual cost of living faced by Nigerian workers.
As discussions continue, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum is yet to formally submit a revised minimum wage proposal to either the Federal Government or organised labour, leaving the debate over workers’ compensation far from settled.
