The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has turned down the proposed N100,000 minimum wage being discussed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, saying it is too low to meet the cost of living in the country.
The union said workers now need a much higher wage, placing a realistic figure at about N1m because of current economic pressure.
The proposal for a new wage was led by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
He said governors were considering a review of the national minimum wage to reflect rising inflation, higher living costs and the need to balance workers’ welfare with what government can afford.
The labour union said it welcomed talks on improving workers’ pay but insisted that N100,000 would not solve the hardship facing many Nigerians.
It pointed to issues such as the falling value of the naira, high inflation, increased electricity charges, higher fuel prices, new tax policies and the general drop in purchasing power as reasons why a much higher wage is needed.
According to the union, government revenue has also improved, with reference to increased inflows from the Federation Account Allocation Committee and other earnings, which it believes should support better pay for workers.
It also noted that recent gains from global events had added more funds to government coffers, even if temporarily.
The labour body stressed that workers remain central to national development and should be properly paid to maintain productivity and economic stability.
The debate comes at a time of growing pressure on household incomes following fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira by the Federal Government.
In 2024, the national minimum wage was increased to N70,000 after negotiations between government and labour, replacing the N30,000 set in 2019 after prolonged talks.
