The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the proposed ₦100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors, insisting that Nigerian workers deserve a minimum monthly wage of ₦1 million to cope with the country’s current economic realities.
The position was made known by the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, who described the proposed ₦100,000 wage as grossly inadequate considering rising inflation, the depreciation of the naira, increased electricity tariffs and soaring fuel prices.
Upah was reacting to comments by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who disclosed that governors were considering a fresh wage structure of ₦100,000 as part of efforts to address the financial burden on workers.
According to the labour leader, while the governors’ willingness to review wages is commendable, the proposed figure falls far below what is required for workers to survive under prevailing economic conditions.
He argued that given the realities of the exchange rate, inflation, tax reforms and declining purchasing power of Nigerians, a realistic wage benchmark should be as high as ₦1 million.
Upah also maintained that governments now have improved revenues and should be able to prioritise workers’ welfare, noting that the nation’s workforce remains its most valuable asset.
The debate over a new minimum wage comes amid worsening economic hardship following recent reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalisation, which have significantly increased the cost of living across the country.
Although the Federal Government approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage in 2024, organised labour insists that inflation has eroded its value, making another review necessary.
