The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has disclosed that state governors are considering a new national minimum wage of N100,000 as part of efforts to address the growing economic hardship facing Nigerians.
AbdulRazaq made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Saturday, explaining that the proposal was informed by rising inflation, increasing living costs and the mounting financial burden on workers across the country.
According to the governor, state governments are currently engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to develop a wage structure that adequately caters to workers’ welfare while remaining financially sustainable for governments at all levels.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
He stated that consultations are ongoing among key stakeholders to ensure that any new wage arrangement does not create unsustainable financial obligations 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.
AbdulRazaq explained that discussions are centred on finding a balance between improving workers’ purchasing power and preserving the ability of governments to continue providing essential public services and executing 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.
The NGF chairman stressed that although workers deserve improved remuneration, policymakers must also take into account the fiscal challenges confronting subnational governments across the federation.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to further intensify national discussions on salaries, inflation and wider economic reforms at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices, transportation costs and other essential living expenses.
Workers across the country have repeatedly expressed concerns that current salary levels are no longer sufficient to meet basic household needs, citing the difficult economic conditions and persistent increase in the cost of living.
Nigeria’s statutory national minimum wage currently stands at N70,000 per month.
However, several states, including Lagos, Rivers and Imo, are reportedly paying wages above the national benchmark as part of measures aimed at improving workers’ welfare and cushioning the impact of economic hardship.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has continued to advocate for a comprehensive review of workers’ salaries, maintaining that Nigerian workers deserve a living wage capable of meeting current economic realities rather than a wage that merely guarantees survival.
