The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has revealed that state governors are considering a new national minimum wage of ₦100,000 in response to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living across Nigeria.
According to AbdulRazaq, discussions are ongoing between state governments, the Federal Government, and organized labour to arrive at a wage structure that improves workers’ welfare while remaining financially sustainable for governments.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, he noted that many states are already paying salaries close to ₦100,000 and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support discussions aimed at raising the national benchmark from the current ₦70,000.
The NGF chairman said the proposal is driven by current economic realities, including inflation, rising food prices, transportation costs, and the growing financial pressure on Nigerian workers. He emphasized that any new wage structure must strike a balance between improving workers’ purchasing power and ensuring that states can continue to fund infrastructure and essential public services.
The current national minimum wage of ₦70,000 was signed into law in 2024. Any upward review would require negotiations involving the Federal Government, state governments, labour unions, and the private sector before implementation.
Labour groups have consistently argued that the present minimum wage has been eroded by inflation and no longer reflects the realities faced by workers. The proposal for a ₦100,000 minimum wage is therefore expected to spark renewed national debate on salaries, inflation, productivity, and the broader economy.
If approved, the increase would represent a 42.9 percent rise from the current ₦70,000 minimum wage and could become one of the most significant wage adjustments in Nigeria’s recent history.
