The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government workers are urging an urgent review of the national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 level is no longer sustainable given the country’s economic realities. This demand follows recent decisions by several states to raise their minimum wages above the national benchmark.
In recent months, a number of states have adjusted their minimum wages in response to rising living costs. On August 27, 2025, Imo State increased its minimum wage from N70,000 to N104,000 and revised the salary structure for civil servants, a move described by Governor Hope Uzodinma as part of efforts to improve worker welfare. Other states, including Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa, have also set higher minimum wages ranging from N75,000 to N85,000. These adjustments aim to counteract the erosion of purchasing power caused by inflation, which has left many workers struggling to meet basic needs.
Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, warned that the current minimum wage is untenable under present economic conditions. “Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen,” he said. The NLC has repeatedly engaged the Federal Government on this issue, 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 nationwide, covering the federal government, states, local governments and the private sector.
Calls for a further review highlight the challenges faced by Nigerian workers, as rising costs of food, transportation, housing and other essential services have diminished the purchasing power of the N70,000 minimum wage. As the government considers the NLC’s demands, it must balance the need to support worker welfare with the broader economic realities confronting the country.
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