ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has formally initiated negotiations with the Federal Government for a revised national minimum wage of ₦1 million per month, citing soaring inflation, naira depreciation, and rising living costs as grounds for the unprecedented demand.
The proposal, if accepted, would replace the current ₦70,000 benchmark introduced in 2024 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The new demand marks a significant escalation in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to realign workers’ wages with the country’s worsening economic conditions.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Persecondnews, Benson Upah, Head of Information and Communications at Labour House, Abuja, said: “We accepted ₦70,000 as the minimum wage, considering the potential impact on Nigerians,” noting that the agreement included a reduced review cycle of three years and compressed natural gas (CNG) transport incentives.
“Although it wasn’t the best offer, we accepted ₦70,000. However, given the current value of the minimum wage, we’ve commenced official communications with the government for a review,” Upah added.
He described the ₦1 million request as essential to “restore purchasing power” and help workers cope with the “real cost of living,” pointing out that the current wage, roughly $44 a month at prevailing exchange rates, is insufficient.
“N₦70,000 is about $44 not per hour, per day or per week but for a month. We are asking for ₦1 million, which converts to $633 in American dollars,” he said.
“This is what we are asking from the President. Don’t forget that Nigeria prides itself as the largest economy in Africa, yet we pay our workers peanuts.”
The NLC argues that the government has the fiscal capacity to implement a ₦1 million minimum wage, citing rising federal revenue.
According to Upah, monthly allocations by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have increased from ₦700 billion to over ₦1.6 trillion, with additional revenue from subsidy savings, customs tariffs, and federal taxes.
“The government of Nigeria is rich, there are statistics to back this up,” he asserted.
“Where is the money from subsidy? Where is the money from tariffs, Customs, FIRS? The ports make billions of naira per day.”
The union also underscored the historical evolution of Nigeria’s minimum wage structure, beginning in 1981 when it was ₦125 per month.
Subsequent increases included ₦5,500 in 2000, ₦18,000 in 2011, ₦30,000 in 2019, and the current ₦70,000 in 2024 under Tinubu.
As negotiations continue, the NLC has also drawn attention to unresolved grievances from past disputes, including the brutalisation and arrest of NLC President Joe Ajaero in 2023 by alleged state agents in Imo State during a protest over unpaid salaries.
“The Imo State government has not apologised to the NLC President after he was brutalised in Owerri almost two years ago,” Upah said.
“Contrary to promises made by the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, no arrest has been made, and nobody has been brought to book.”
He described the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by labour leaders in Nigeria and called on the federal government to do more to protect workers’ rights.
