Yola – Workers employed by the Adamawa State Government have formally asked for an increase in the minimum wage they receive. Represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State Chairman Emmanuel Fashe, the employees say the current national minimum of N70,000 per month no longer meets the rising cost of living.
Speaking at a Workers’ Day event on Friday, Fashe highlighted the sharp rise in expenses for food, transport, housing and other essentials. He called for the state’s Minimum Wage Committee to be reconvened to negotiate a “living wage” that reflects today’s economic conditions.
“The cost of basic needs has escalated dramatically; we need a wage that matches the reality of the current economy,” Fashe said.
The request was received by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s administration through his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, who represented the governor at the May Day celebration in Mahmud Ribadu Square, Yola. The governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to workers’ welfare, stating that any adjustment to the minimum wage would follow a decision at the national level.
“Whenever a national minimum wage is agreed on at the national level, Adamawa will lead the way in implementing it,” Governor Fintiri said, recalling that the state was the first in Nigeria to adopt the N70,000 minimum wage in August 2024.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment set the N70,000 figure as the national minimum wage in 2022. Since then, inflation and currency depreciation have eroded its purchasing power, prompting renewed calls from various state and private sector unions for a higher benchmark.
Stakeholders note that the outcome of the national wage negotiation will likely shape the state’s next steps. If a higher national minimum is approved, Adamawa officials have indicated they will move promptly to align state payrolls with the new standard.
The NLC’s appeal adds to a broader national discourse on wage adequacy amid economic pressures. As the state Minimum Wage Committee prepares to meet, workers and employers alike await a determination that balances fiscal sustainability with the need for a realistic living wage.
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