The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, alongside federal government workers, has called for an immediate upward review of the national minimum wage, insisting that the N70,000 benchmark is no longer sustainable.
Their demand comes as several states across the country have taken bold steps to raise their minimum wage above the national threshold, citing harsh economic realities.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, labour unions and workers highlighted that galloping inflation, coupled with soaring costs of food, transportation, housing, and other essential services, has rendered the N70,000 wage inadequate.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024, raising the wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The law applies to federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector.
However, some states have since introduced higher wage packages. On August 27, 2025, Imo State increased its minimum wage to N104,000, with Governor Hope Uzodinma explaining that the decision, reached after consultations with organised labour, was aimed at improving worker welfare.
Earlier, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu raised the minimum wage to N85,000 in October 2024, with a promise to push it further to N100,000 in 2025. Rivers State followed suit with an N85,000 wage, while Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom settled on N80,000. Ogun and Delta pegged theirs at N77,000, Benue and Osun raised it to N75,000, while Ondo fixed its own at N73,000.
Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Benson Upah, stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that the current wage structure cannot sustain workers’ survival.
“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.
“We have since engaged the Federal Government on this matter at different times and fora,” he said.
