By Adesakin Adefemi
The Nigeria Labour Congress has dismissed the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors, saying the figure is far below what workers need to survive in Nigeria’s current economic climate. NLC spokesperson Benson Upah argued that workers should earn as much as N1 million monthly.
Upah made the statement in an interview on Sunday in reaction to comments by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The governor, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, had said governors were weighing a new minimum wage of N100,000 due to rising inflation and living costs.
According to AbdulRazaq, state governments are already engaging the Federal Government and organised labour to design a wage structure that balances workers’ welfare with fiscal sustainability. He made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Reacting, Upah commended the governors for considering a review but said N100,000 would not address the hardship faced by workers. He described the proposal as unrealistic given the sharp decline in purchasing power.
The NLC spokesperson listed several factors driving the demand for a higher wage. These include the continued depreciation of the naira, rising inflation, increased electricity tariffs, higher fuel prices, and the impact of new tax measures on household expenses.
“Given the realities around the exchange rate, inflation, raised tariffs, the surge in the pump price of petrol and associated costs, and the decline in the purchasing power of the average worker, the realistic figure, subject to status quo maintenance, would be N1 million,” Upah said.
He also argued that government revenue has improved significantly and should be used to support better pay. Upah pointed to increased FAAC allocations and a temporary windfall from the Middle East conflict, which he said had put over N5 trillion into the treasury.
Upah stressed that the workforce remains the most valuable asset of any nation and must be adequately compensated to sustain productivity and growth. He said workers’ salaries should reflect the prevailing economic realities.
The debate over wages has intensified since the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. The Federal Government approved a N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024, but labour unions say inflation and rising costs have since eroded its value. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is yet to formally present a new wage framework to the Federal Government or organised labour.
