Nigeria’s state governors have opened discussions on raising the national minimum wage to ₦100,000, in what they say is a response to rising inflation and worsening economic hardship facing workers across the country.
The proposal was disclosed on Saturday by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, during a Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
He said consultations are ongoing between state governments, the Federal Government, and organised labour on a possible wage review, less than two years after the current ₦70,000 minimum wage was introduced.
AbdulRazaq said governors are aware of the growing financial pressure facing workers and the need to adjust wages in line with current economic realities.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” he said.
He added that discussions are focused on balancing workers’ welfare with the financial capacity of government.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances,” he said.
He explained that policymakers are trying to ensure that any wage increase improves living standards without weakening states’ ability to fund infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other public services.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain development projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The development comes as inflation continues to push up the cost of food, transport, and basic household needs, making it increasingly difficult for many workers to survive on the current minimum wage.
Labour unions have repeatedly called for a comprehensive wage review, arguing that salaries should reflect economic realities and not just serve as a means of survival.
A labour representative said earlier that “workers cannot continue to earn wages that do not match the cost of living in the country.”
Although discussions are ongoing, no final agreement has been reached on the ₦100,000 proposal. However, the figure is seen as the clearest indication yet that a major wage review may be underway.