𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡! 𝗡𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗡100,000 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗡1𝗺

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

The proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors has sparked strong criticism from organised labour, with the Nigeria Labour Congress declaring the figure grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis.

Speaking on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, rejected the proposal and insisted that Nigerian workers deserve nothing less than N1 million monthly to survive the harsh economic realities confronting citizens across the country.

Upah was reacting to comments made by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who disclosed that governors were considering a new national minimum wage of N100,000 amid rising inflation and increasing living costs.

According to AbdulRazaq, state governments were already consulting with the Federal Government and organised labour in search of a wage structure capable of balancing workers’ welfare with fiscal sustainability.

But labour leaders say the proposed amount is far from sufficient.

“We appreciate the governors for acknowledging the suffering of Nigerian workers, but N100,000 is nowhere near realistic under the present economic conditions,” Upah stated.

He blamed the country’s deepening hardship on the continued depreciation of the naira, skyrocketing inflation, rising electricity tariffs, soaring fuel prices, transportation costs, and the declining purchasing power of workers.

The NLC spokesman argued that the cost of living has become unbearable for average Nigerians and that workers can no longer survive on wages that fail to match current realities.

“Considering the exchange rate crisis, fuel price hikes, increased tariffs, taxation and inflation, the only realistic minimum wage today should be around N1 million if government truly wants workers to live decently,” he said.

Upah further maintained that governments now earn significantly more revenue and therefore have no excuse not to improve workers’ welfare.

He pointed to increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee and additional revenues generated from global oil market developments as evidence that governments can afford better salaries.

“The workforce remains the greatest asset of any nation. If workers are poorly paid and frustrated, productivity and economic growth will continue to suffer,” he added.

The debate over minimum wage has intensified since the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, policies that triggered massive increases in food prices, transportation fares and basic living expenses nationwide.

Although the Federal Government approved a N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024 after prolonged negotiations with labour unions, organised labour insists that inflation has already wiped out the value of the wage.

With Nigerians battling rising costs of food, electricity and transportation, pressure is mounting on both the Federal Government and state governors to implement a wage structure that reflects the country’s current economic realities.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum is yet to officially submit any fresh minimum wage proposal to the Federal Government or organised labour.