The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has revealed that state governors are currently reviewing a proposed new national minimum wage of ₦100,000.
He said the proposal is being considered in response to rising inflation, increasing cost of living, and the growing financial strain on Nigerian workers.
AbdulRazaq made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Saturday, noting that discussions are ongoing between state governments, the Federal Government, and organised labour to arrive at a workable wage framework.
According to him, the aim is to improve workers’ welfare while also ensuring that state finances remain stable and sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” he stated.
He added that consultations are ongoing to design a wage structure that balances fair pay for workers with the financial capacity of government at all levels.
“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,” he said.
AbdulRazaq further explained that the talks are focused on finding a middle ground between improving workers’ purchasing power and ensuring that governments can still fund essential services and development projects.
He stressed that while better pay for workers is necessary, policymakers must also consider the economic limitations facing states.
The proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify nationwide debate over salaries and economic reforms, as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising food prices, transport costs, and general inflation.
The current national minimum wage stands at ₦70,000, although some states such as Lagos, Rivers, and Imo are already paying above the benchmark.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has continued to push for a comprehensive wage review, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present economic realities rather than survival-level earnings.