The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an immediate review of the national minimum wage, insisting that the current ₦70,000 benchmark is no longer realistic in the face of rising inflation and skyrocketing living costs.
The union’s demand follows recent wage increases announced by several state governments. Imo State now pays ₦104,000 as minimum wage, while Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Delta, Benue, Osun, and Ondo have also reviewed salaries upward, with Lagos targeting ₦100,000 by 2025.
Speaking on the issue, NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said the present wage structure is inadequate to sustain workers under current economic realities. He warned that employees are under severe strain and hinted that labour may be forced to take strong action if the federal government fails to act swiftly.
Supporting the call, Shehu Mohammed, President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), described the situation as alarming, reminding the government that labour had initially demanded a ₦250,000 living wage. According to him, the present figure is not enough to cover workers’ basic needs, as many spend almost their entire earnings on food and transportation.
Workers have also lamented that the minimum wage barely stretches beyond essentials, making it impossible to afford rent, school fees, or proper healthcare. The unions are therefore urging the federal government to pair any wage review with policies that provide affordable housing, subsidised transport, and improved healthcare.
Economic experts argue that revising the wage upward would not only improve the standard of living but also stimulate local economic growth, boost small businesses, and enhance consumer spending across the country.
