State governors are considering a new national minimum wage of N100,000 as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising living costs.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this in a Facebook post on Saturday.
He said the proposal was being considered in response to inflation, the rising cost of living, and increasing financial pressure on workers across the country.
According to him, state governments are already in talks with the Federal Government and organised labour on a new wage structure.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
He explained that discussions were focused on finding a balance between workers’ welfare and the financial capacity of 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 said governors were determined to ensure that any increase in wages would not place excessive pressure on state finances.
He noted that the ongoing consultations were aimed at improving workers’ purchasing power without undermining the ability 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.
The NGF chairman added that while workers deserved better pay, policymakers must also take into account the fiscal realities facing state governments.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to fuel further debate on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms.
Many Nigerian workers have repeatedly complained that their current earnings can no longer meet basic household needs due to rising food prices, transportation costs, and other expenses.
Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage currently stands at N70,000 per month.
However, some states, including Lagos, Rivers and Imo, are reportedly paying above the national benchmark to cushion the impact of economic hardship on workers.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to push for a comprehensive salary review, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present economic realities.
