Nigerian workers may have to wait longer for a new minimum wage agreement after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) dismissed the ₦100,000 figure proposed by state governors as inadequate in the face of prevailing economic realities.
Speaking on Saturday, 30 May 2026, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed in a Facebook post that state governments were considering a ₦100,000 monthly minimum wage benchmark.
He noted that discussions were ongoing with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a figure that balances workers’ welfare needs with the fiscal realities facing governments.
However, the NLC responded within 24 hours, insisting that the proposed amount falls far short of what workers require to cope with current economic conditions.
Speaking on Sunday, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said the proposed wage did not reflect the impact of inflation, exchange-rate pressures, rising utility costs, and declining purchasing power.
“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 ₦1 million,” Upah stated.
The labour spokesman argued that governments possess sufficient fiscal capacity to support a higher wage structure. He pointed to increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and additional revenues generated by developments in the global oil market.
“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 ₦5 trillion in the treasury. Even though this is temporary, it is nonetheless very good for governments,” he said.
Upah identified the weakening value of the naira, soaring inflation, higher electricity tariffs, rising fuel prices, declining purchasing power, and the impact of recent tax measures as key factors necessitating a substantially higher minimum wage.
Negotiations among state governors, the Federal Government, and organised labour are expected to continue as stakeholders seek to reach a consensus on a wage framework capable of addressing workers’ concerns while remaining fiscally sustainable.
