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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued an urgent call for the Federal Government to review the national minimum wage, declaring that the current ₦70,000, signed into law in July 2024, is no longer sustainable amid skyrocketing inflation and rising living costs.
The NLC, backed by federal workers and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), is pushing for a new benchmark of at least ₦150,000 to restore dignity to Nigerian workers struggling to survive.
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In a series of interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah emphasized the dire economic realities eroding the value of the ₦70,000 wage. “The truth is that ₦70,000 is not sustainable under the present economic situation. Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen,” Upah stated.
He noted that inflation, which hit 33.9% in July 2025 with food inflation soaring to over 41%, has rendered the wage inadequate for basic necessities like food, transportation, and housing.
The NLC’s demand follows bold moves by several state governments, including Imo, which raised its minimum wage to ₦104,000, and others like Lagos, Rivers, and Ebonyi, which have implemented increases above the federal benchmark. Shehu Mohammed, ASCSN President, praised these states as “eye-openers” for the Federal Government, recalling that during 2024 negotiations, labour proposed ₦250,000 as a living wage. “Let’s be realistic. Even if you pay electricity bills out of ₦70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days,” Mohammed argued, urging complementary policies like affordable housing and subsidized transportation.
Let’s be realistic. Even if you pay electricity bills out of ₦70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days
The ₦70,000 minimum wage, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu after contentious negotiations and nationwide strikes, marked a significant increase from the previous ₦30,000. However, workers like Obi Chimaobi, a civil servant, describe the wage as a lifeline that leaves them “already in debt before the month ends.” The National Bureau of Statistics reported in June 2024 that food inflation reached 40.9%, while a Proshare report estimated monthly living costs for a single person in Lagos at ₦343,092, far outstripping the minimum wage.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking at a recent conference, commended Imo State’s ₦104,000 wage as a model for others, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly. “If states with limited revenue can raise their minimum wage, the federal government must do better. A fair review to at least ₦150,000 would stimulate the economy through increased spending,” he said.
Upah added that while the NLC remains committed to dialogue, industrial action is not off the table if negotiations stall.
No state has an excuse to stay at ₦70,000, especially with people struggling with the price of petrol
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has also weighed in, urging states to exceed the ₦70,000 benchmark, citing improved federal revenues and the need to treat workers with dignity. “No state has an excuse to stay at ₦70,000, especially with people struggling with the price of petrol,” said NECA Director-General Adewale Oyerinde.
As economic pressures mount, the NLC’s call resonates with workers like Bukola, a 25-year-old NYSC member in Ogun State, who lamented that even with the ₦70,000 wage, her expenses far exceed her income. “The cost of living keeps increasing daily,” she said, echoing a sentiment shared by many Nigerians.
The Federal Government has yet to respond formally to the NLC’s latest demand, but the growing wave of state-level wage increases and public frustration signal an urgent need for action. The NLC insists that a revised minimum wage, coupled with policies to curb inflation, is not just an economic necessity but a moral obligation to restore hope and dignity to Nigeria’s workforce.
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