The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has disclosed that state governors are weighing the possibility of adopting a new national minimum wage of N100,000 as workers continue to grapple with worsening economic conditions.
AbdulRazaq made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Saturday, explaining that the proposal is being considered in response to inflationary pressures, the rising cost of living and the growing financial burden on Nigerian workers.
According to him, discussions are ongoing between state governments, the Federal Government and organised labour to develop a wage framework that improves workers’ welfare without jeopardising government finances.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
He noted that consultations were still underway to ensure that any adjustment to the minimum wage remains realistic and financially manageable for state governments.
“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 stated.
The NGF chairman explained that the talks are centred on finding a balance between increasing workers’ earnings and maintaining the capacity of governments to fund essential services and infrastructure projects.
“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 said.
AbdulRazaq stressed that while workers deserve improved pay, authorities must also take into account the financial realities facing subnational governments across the country.
If adopted, the proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to further fuel national debate on workers’ salaries, inflation and economic reforms, especially as many Nigerians continue to struggle with rising food prices, transportation costs and other household expenses.
Workers across the country have repeatedly argued that current wages are no longer sufficient to cater for basic needs due to the prevailing economic challenges.
Nigeria’s official minimum wage is currently N70,000 per month. However, some states, including Lagos, Rivers and Imo, have reportedly implemented wage structures above the national benchmark to cushion the impact of economic hardship on workers.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has maintained its call for a broad review of workers’ salaries, insisting that Nigerian workers should earn wages that reflect present economic realities and provide a decent standard of living rather than mere survival.