The Nigeria Labour Congress and federal government workers are calling for an urgent review of the national minimum wage, citing the current N70,000 as no longer sustainable due to the country’s economic realities. This demand follows the decision by several states to increase their minimum wage above the national benchmark.

In recent months, various states have taken steps to adjust their minimum wage in response to rising costs of living. For instance, Imo State increased its minimum wage from N70,000 to N104,000 on August 27, 2025, along with corresponding adjustments to the salary structure for civil servants. This move was part of efforts to improve worker welfare, according to Governor Hope Uzodinma.

Other states, such as Lagos, Rivers, and Bayelsa, have also implemented higher minimum wages, ranging from N75,000 to N85,000. These adjustments aim to address the erosion of purchasing power caused by inflation, which has affected the value of the N70,000 minimum wage. As a result, many workers are struggling to meet their basic needs.

According to Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, the current minimum wage is no longer tenable under the present economic conditions. “Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen,” he stated. The NLC has engaged the Federal Government on this matter at different times and fora, emphasizing the need for a review.

The national minimum wage was last revised in July 2024, when President Bola Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law, raising the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The amended law applies to the entire country, including the federal government, states, local governments, and the private sector.

The calls for a minimum wage review highlight the challenges faced by workers in Nigeria, where rising costs of food, transportation, housing, and other essential services have reduced the purchasing power of the N70,000 minimum wage. As the government considers the demands of the NLC and workers, it must balance the need to support worker welfare with the economic realities facing the country.