N100,000 Minimum Wage Unrealistic, Workers Should Earn N1m Monthly — NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors as unrealistic, insisting that Nigerian workers should earn as much as N1 million monthly given current economic conditions.

The NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, made the position known in an interview with journalists on Sunday while reacting to comments 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.

AbdulRazaq had, in a Facebook post on Saturday, said the proposal was informed by rising inflation, increasing cost of living and the growing financial pressure on Nigerian workers.

He noted that state governments were already engaging the federal government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that balances workers’ welfare with fiscal sustainability.

Reacting, Upah said while the idea of reviewing wages was welcome, the proposed N100,000 fell far below what workers require to survive under current economic realities.

“We consider it thoughtful of the Kwara State governor to propose this, but certainly, N100,000 falls far below the realistic figure,” he said.

He cited the depreciation of the naira, rising inflation, increased electricity tariffs, higher fuel prices, declining purchasing power and new tax measures as factors that make a significantly higher wage necessary.

“Given the realities around the exchange rate, inflation, raised tariffs, the surge in the pump price of petrol and associated costs, the decline in the purchasing power of the average worker, and the effects of the new tax regime on our cost of living, the realistic figure, subject to status quo maintenance, would be N1 million,” he stated.

Upah argued that government revenues have improved and should be able to accommodate better remuneration for workers, adding that allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and other inflows support his position.

“In light of the earnings by governments, this should not be a big issue. Check what is being shared at FAAC. The windfall from the Middle East war has put over N5tn in the treasury. Even though this is temporary, it is nonetheless very good for governments,” he added.

He further stressed that the workforce remains the most critical asset of any nation and must be adequately compensated to drive productivity and economic growth.

“Finally, please note that the greatest asset of any nation is its workforce,” he said.

The debate over minimum wage has continued amid rising inflation, subsidy removal and currency reforms, with labour unions insisting that the current ₦70,000 benchmark approved in 2024 has been eroded by economic pressures.