NLC Declares ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Unsustainable Amid Economic Realities

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government workers have called for an immediate review of the national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 is no longer adequate to meet the rising cost of living.

This demand follows several states’ recent decisions to increase their workers’ minimum wages beyond the N70,000 threshold in response to Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions.

Speaking separately to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), labour unions and workers highlighted that with soaring inflation and escalating prices for food, transportation, housing, and other essentials, the existing minimum wage fails to sustain workers’ basic needs.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024, increasing the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The law covers federal, state, local government employees, and the private sector nationwide.

However, on August 27, 2025, Imo State took the lead by raising its minimum wage to N104,000 and adjusted the entire salary structure for civil servants. Governor Hope Uzodinma said the increase, agreed upon after consultations with organised labour, aims to enhance workers’ welfare.

Before Imo’s move, other states had also implemented higher minimum wages:

• Lagos State raised its minimum wage to N85,000 in October 2024, with plans to increase it further to N100,000 in 2025 (Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu).

• Rivers State approved N85,000.

• Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom set theirs at N80,000.

• Ogun and Delta States implemented N77,000.

• Benue and Osun increased to N75,000.

• Ondo pegged its wage at N73,000.

Speaking from Abuja, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Benson Upah, said inflation has significantly diminished the purchasing power of the N70,000 wage, leaving many workers struggling to cover basic expenses.

“The truth is that N70,000 is not sustainable under the present economic situation. Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government acts swiftly, the crisis of survival will worsen. We have engaged the Federal Government on this issue multiple times,” Upah stated.