Nigeria Labour Congress Advocates N1 Million Minimum Wage

According to an analysis by The Guardian, a single Nigerian worker residing in an urban center needs at least N372,300 monthly to meet basic living expenses, which is over five times the current national minimum wage of N70,000. The breakdown includes N125,000 for housing, N99,000 for transport, N47,670 for food, N15,000 for utilities, N20,000 for personal care, N30,000 for clothing, and N3,958 for health insurance, along with N32,326 allocated for savings.

This analysis comes as Nigeria approaches its next national minimum wage review in 2027. The earnings reportedly fell by about N2.79 trillion in 2024 to N25.48 trillion after inflation adjustments, highlighting the growing disparity between wages and living costs.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) plans to push for a N1 million monthly minimum wage during negotiations, with Deputy National President Adewale Adeyanju stating that the proposal will be based on current economic conditions. NLC President Joe Ajaero announced a nationwide campaign for the minimum wage and a national minimum pension.