Presidency signals fresh review of ₦70,000 minimum wage

The Presidency has confirmed that plans are underway to review Nigeria’s current national minimum wage, admitting that the existing ₦70,000 benchmark may no longer be sustainable in the face of prevailing economic realities.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during an event organised by Working People United.

According to Gbajabiamila, the ₦70,000 minimum wage introduced by the Tinubu administration in 2024 represented a significant milestone but now requires a fresh assessment due to changing economic conditions and the rising cost of living.

“The ₦70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” he said.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives noted that the current economic environment has made it necessary to re-evaluate what constitutes a fair and living wage for Nigerian workers.

He assured organised labour that the Federal Government would approach future wage negotiations as a partner rather than an opponent.

“I can confirm to you that when the time comes to begin the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, this administration will approach that endeavour not as an adversary of labour, but as a partner,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare, stressing that the administration recognises the critical role of workers in national development.

“President Tinubu has said time and again that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair and commensurate wage, and as you all well know by now, this is the president who means precisely what he says and does exactly what he means,” he added.

The Chief of Staff also called on labour leaders to prioritise dialogue and engagement over industrial actions, arguing that cooperation between government and workers remains essential for national progress.

“Good governance is not a performance stage by government for the benefit of a passive audience. It is a partnership between those who govern and those who are governed,” he said.

He further stressed that industrial harmony can only be achieved through sustained collaboration between government and organised labour.

Meanwhile, labour unions and public sector workers have continued to demand a review of the minimum wage, arguing that inflation and rising living costs have significantly eroded the purchasing power of the current ₦70,000 wage.

Civil servants under the umbrella of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have recently intensified calls for a substantial increase, insisting that many workers can no longer cope with current economic realities.

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