ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has disclosed that state governors are considering a new national minimum wage baseline of ₦100,000 to help workers cope with the country’s rising economic hardship.
The Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, announced the development on Saturday, May 30, noting that persistent inflation and the soaring cost of living made an upward salary review necessary.
Okay News reports that the ₦100,000 proposal follows high-level consultations between state executives, the Federal Government, and organized labor aimed at restructuring worker compensation nationwide.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq stated. He explained that current discussions are strictly focused on boosting the purchasing power of public employees without putting a breaking strain on state finances or disrupting critical infrastructure projects.
Nigeria’s current statutory minimum wage sits at ₦70,000, following an amendment signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in 2024. While economically vibrant states like Lagos, Rivers, and Imo are already paying above that national benchmark, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has maintained pressure on policymakers to establish a sustainable living wage that reflects modern economic demands rather than basic survival.
