NLC Demands Review of N70,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to revisit the recently approved N70,000 national minimum wage, arguing that it no longer meets the realities of the country’s economic situation.

President Bola Tinubu had in July 2024 signed a law increasing the wage floor from N30,000 to N70,000 for federal, state, and private sector workers. But the NLC says the sharp rise in food prices, transport fares, housing costs, and electricity tariffs has eroded the value of the increase.

Several states have already gone beyond the federal benchmark. On August 27, Imo governor Hope Uzodimma approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for workers, while Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Delta, Benue, Osun, and Ondo have also raised salaries — with Lagos aiming for N100,000 by 2025.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Benson Upah, acting general secretary of the NLC, said workers are finding it increasingly difficult to survive.

“The truth is that N70,000 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,” he said.

Upah stressed that while the union prefers dialogue, industrial action could be considered if the government fails to act.

Shehu Mohammed, president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), also weighed in, commending states that have implemented higher wage structures and calling them “eye-openers” for the federal government.

He recalled that labour’s original proposal during negotiations was N250,000, which he described as a fairer benchmark for a living wage.

“Let’s be realistic. Even if you pay electricity bills out of N70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days,” Mohammed noted.

He urged federal and state authorities to pair wage increases with broader social policies that would reduce the cost of living, such as affordable housing, healthcare, and subsidised public transportation.

Some federal workers who spoke with NAN echoed these concerns, warning that life is becoming unbearable under the current economic climate.