State governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have opened discussions on a possible increase of the national minimum wage to N100,000 as part of efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship on Nigerian workers.
Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this on Saturday during a Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
According to him, consultations are ongoing among state governments, the Federal Government and organised labour over a fresh wage structure that would reflect prevailing economic realities while remaining sustainable for government finances.
The development comes less than two years after the current N70,000 minimum wage was introduced.
AbdulRazaq said governors were concerned about the rising cost of living and its impact on workers across the country.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” he said.
He explained that the negotiations were aimed at reaching a consensus that would improve workers’ earnings without undermining the financial stability of states.
“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,” the NGF chairman stated.
He added that policymakers were faced with the challenge of balancing improved workers’ purchasing power with the need for governments to continue funding infrastructure and social services.
“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,” AbdulRazaq said.
The proposed wage review is expected to trigger fresh national conversations on inflation, workers’ welfare and economic reforms as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising food prices, transport fares and utility costs.
Labour unions have repeatedly called for salaries that reflect the realities of the economy and provide workers with a decent standard of living.
Although no agreement has been reached, the consideration of a N100,000 benchmark signals a possible upward review of workers’ pay in the coming months.
