By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says state governments are considering a proposal to raise the national minimum wage to N100,000 in response to rising inflation and worsening economic hardship across the country.
NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Saturday, stating that discussions were ongoing among state governments, the Federal Government and organised labour on a new wage structure.
According to AbdulRazaq, the proposed increase is aimed at improving workers’ welfare while ensuring that states remain financially capable of meeting their obligations and funding critical development projects.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” he said.
He added that consultations were focused on reaching an agreement that would balance workers’ needs with fiscal sustainability.
“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,” AbdulRazaq stated.
The governor noted that while enhancing workers’ purchasing power is a priority, policymakers must also consider the financial realities facing subnational governments.
“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,” he said.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns over the impact of inflation, rising food prices, transportation costs and other living expenses on Nigerian workers.
Nigeria’s current national minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. However, some states, including Lagos, Rivers and Imo, reportedly pay above the benchmark.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has consistently advocated a review of workers’ salaries, arguing that employees should earn wages that reflect prevailing economic conditions and provide a decent standard of living.
If adopted, the proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to spark broader national discussions on salaries, inflation and economic reforms.
