The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal workers are calling on the government to review the minimum wage, saying the current ₦70,000 is no longer enough to survive.
Rising prices of food, transport, rent, and electricity have made life harder for workers, while some states like Imo, Lagos, and Rivers have already raised their minimum wages above the federal benchmark.
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Mr Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, said:
“₦70,000 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.”
Mr Shehu Mohammed, President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), also stressed the need for urgent action:
“Even if you pay electricity bills out of ₦70,000, what remains cannot sustain a family for 10 days. The federal government must act fast.”
Workers are urging the government to provide not only a higher wage but also policies to reduce the cost of living.