N70,000 Minimum Wage Insufficient, NLC Tells FG, Call For Review

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Federal Civil workers have called on the Federal Government for an upward review of the national minimum wage, saying N70,000 has become inadequate as a result of present economic realities.
The labour unions and workers who stated this in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria contended that in the face of galloping inflation, rising costs of food, transportation, housing, and other essential services, the N70,000 minimum wage could no longer sustain them.
Their demand for the review follows recent wage reviews by some states.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage law, raising the base from N30,000 to N70,000 for federal, state, and private sector employees.
However, inflation and the rising cost of food, transport, housing, and electricity have since eroded the value of the wage.
On August 27, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, announced a new minimum wage of N104,000 for workers in the state, with corresponding adjustments across the salary structure.
Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Delta, Benue, Osun, and Ondo have also reviewed salaries upwards — with the nation’s commercial capital targeting N100,000 in 2025.
The Acting general secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, who stated this during an interview with NAN on Sunday said workers are struggling to survive.
“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.
“It is our hope that the government would see both the economic and moral obligations to do so expeditiously,” he said.
he said, just as he also added that while the NLC is committed to dialogue, industrial action remains an option if the federal government fails to act.
He also urged workers to remain united and active in union activities to strengthen the collective struggle.
The President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Shehu Mohammed, also in an interview, commended states that have increased wages, describing them as “eye-openers” for the federal government.
“Right from the beginning, during the negotiation, our demand was for a living wage, and we submitted N250,000 as a reasonable benchmark,” Mohammed said.
“Let’s be realistic. Even if you pay electricity bills out of N70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days.”
He urged governments to complement wage increases with policies that reduce the cost of living, including affordable housing, healthcare, and subsidised transportation.
Some federal workers who spoke to the news agency expressed similar concerns, saying survival has become increasingly difficult under current harsh economic situation.
A civil servant, Mrs Kemi George, said the economic realities were becoming increasingly frustrating.
“By the time I pay transport to work and buy food, nothing is left. Rent and school fees are almost impossible to cover.
“It is only God that has been sustaining us because our take-home pay is nothing compared to what we spend in a month,” she said.
Another worker, Mr Obi Chimaobi, described the situation as unbearable, saying the harsh economy has pushed many families into hardship.
He said that it was nearly impossible for the average worker to survive on the current minimum wage of ₦70,000.
“Things are no longer affordable. A bag of rice is now like gold, transport fares keep rising daily, and with ₦70,000, you are already in debt before the month even ends.
“The Federal Government must act very fast in reviewing workers’ wages.
“The federal government must also recognise that reviewing the minimum wage is not merely about appeasing labour unions.