N100,000 minimum wage inadequate, workers deserve N1m — NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors, describing it as insufficient in the face of current economic realities.

NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, made the position known in response to remarks by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who disclosed that governors were weighing a new wage benchmark to address rising living costs.

While acknowledging the move as a positive step, Upah argued that N100,000 falls far short of what Nigerian workers need to cope with inflation and declining purchasing power.

“We consider it thoughtful, but N100,000 is not realistic under current conditions,” he said.

According to him, factors such as the depreciation of the naira, high inflation, increased electricity tariffs, rising fuel prices, and the impact of recent tax policies have significantly eroded workers’ earnings.

He maintained that a more realistic minimum wage, given the prevailing economic situation, would be as high as N1 million monthly.

Upah also pointed to improved government revenues, including allocations from the Federation Account, suggesting that authorities have the financial capacity to better support workers’ welfare.

He stressed that the workforce remains the backbone of any nation’s economy and must be adequately compensated to drive productivity and growth.

The debate over a new minimum wage comes amid worsening economic pressures following recent reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the liberalisation of the exchange rate.

Although the Federal Government approved a N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024 after negotiations with labour unions, organised labour insists that inflation has since diminished its value.

With rising costs of food, transportation, and electricity, calls for a fresh wage review have intensified, though the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has yet to present a formal proposal to the Federal Government or labour groups.