By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm that the current national minimum wage of N70,000 is no longer sustainable under Nigeria’s harsh economic realities.
The union said rising inflation, high food prices, costly transportation, and expensive housing have eroded the value of the wage signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024.
Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that workers across the country are struggling to survive and need urgent relief.
> “The truth is that N70,000 is not sustainable under the present economic situation. Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen,” Upah said.
Already, several states have reviewed their minimum wages above the federal benchmark. Imo State recently increased its minimum wage to N104,000, while Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Delta, Benue, Osun, and Ondo have also implemented higher wage structures ranging from N73,000 to N100,000.
Labour leaders stressed that while the federal government must urgently review the wage again, states should continue to adjust salaries in line with economic realities to prevent workers from sinking deeper into poverty.