Federal Government Urged to Reevaluate Wage Standards; NLC Stipulates ₦70,000 as Inadequate Minimum Wage
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have expressed concern over the current minimum wage, with both organisations calling for a review amidst the ongoing economic struggles faced by survival workers.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, has been at the forefront of these discussions, engaging the Federal Government on several occasions. Upah argues that despite President Bola Tinubu signing the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024, raising the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, this amount is not sustainable under the present economic situation.
Upah stated, "Even if you pay electricity bills out of ₦70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days." He further added that with high electricity tariffs, transportation, and food prices, ₦70,000 has lost its value.
Similarly, the President of the ASCSN, Shehu Mohammed, has also engaged the Federal Government on this matter. Mohammed proposed ₦250,000 as a reasonable benchmark for the minimum wage during negotiations, stating that anything short of this only takes a worker to the office, not back home.
Mohammed commended some state governors who have been paying more than the ₦70,000 minimum wage benchmark, but emphasised that the government must see both the economic and moral obligations to expeditiously review the minimum wage.
Both Upah and Mohammed have urged the federal government to respond quickly to the crisis of survival workers, highlighting the galloping inflation, rising costs of food, transportation, housing, and other essential services that are making it difficult for workers to meet their basic needs.
As of 2025, the current Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has not recorded negotiations about revising the minimum wage of ₦70,000. The NLC is currently negotiating with the government to review the minimum wage, with both Upah and Mohammed hoping for a positive outcome.
In conclusion, the NLC and ASCSN are pressing the government to address the minimum wage issue, advocating for a living wage rather than just a minimum wage. The organisations believe that a review of the current minimum wage is necessary to alleviate the economic struggles faced by survival workers in Nigeria.
