The Federal Government has indicated its readiness to reopen discussions on the national minimum wage, with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledging that the ₦70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 is no longer sufficient to meet the economic realities confronting Nigerian workers.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday while representing President Bola Tinubu at a governance summit organised by the Working People United for Good Governance (WOPU) in Abuja. His remarks have renewed expectations that the government may soon begin consultations with organised labour and other stakeholders on a fresh review of workers’ salaries.
Addressing labour leaders, trade union representatives, civil servants, and other participants at the summit, the presidential aide admitted that the rising cost of living had significantly eroded the purchasing power of workers since the minimum wage was introduced less than two years ago.
He said the administration recognises the financial pressure faced by millions of Nigerians and is prepared to engage labour unions in constructive dialogue whenever the statutory process for reviewing the minimum wage commences.
“The cost of living remains too high for too many of our people. The ₦70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” Gbajabiamila said.
He assured workers that the Tinubu administration would not approach future wage negotiations as an opponent but as a willing partner committed to reaching mutually beneficial outcomes.
“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.
The comments represent one of the strongest indications yet that the Federal Government recognises the impact of inflation on workers’ incomes and is open to reviewing the current wage structure.
President Bola Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage Act into law in July 2024 after months of intense negotiations involving the Federal Government, organised labour, state governments, and representatives of the private sector.
The negotiations followed prolonged disagreements between labour unions and government officials over what constituted a realistic living wage in light of soaring inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies.
The eventual agreement fixed the new national minimum wage at ₦70,000 per month, replacing the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage.
In addition to increasing the wage floor, the legislation also amended the review mechanism by reducing the interval for future wage reviews from five years to three years. The amendment was designed to ensure that workers’ salaries can be adjusted more frequently to reflect prevailing economic conditions.
Defending the administration’s economic reforms, Gbajabiamila argued that President Tinubu inherited an economy facing deep structural challenges, including unsustainable fuel subsidy payments and distortions within the foreign exchange market.
According to him, the government was compelled to implement difficult but necessary reforms to prevent a more severe economic crisis.
“The President had a choice either to govern as a politician thinking about the next election or as a statesman thinking about the next generation. He chose the latter,” Gbajabiamila said.
He acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market contributed significantly to rising inflation and increased living costs across the country.
However, he maintained that the government has never denied the hardship experienced by Nigerians and has continued to implement measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the reforms.
Gbajabiamila pointed to several interventions introduced by the administration to support workers, retirees, businesses, and vulnerable households.
Among them, he highlighted the restoration of gratuity payments for retiring federal civil servants, the settlement of outstanding pension liabilities, and efforts to expand the micro-pension scheme to accommodate workers in the informal sector.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government established a ₦200 billion intervention fund designed to provide financial support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which account for a significant proportion of employment and economic activity in Nigeria.
According to him, the administration has also expanded various social investment programmes targeted at vulnerable Nigerians to help cushion the impact of ongoing economic reforms.
While acknowledging that macroeconomic indicators have begun showing signs of improvement, Gbajabiamila admitted that many ordinary Nigerians are yet to experience the benefits directly.
He noted that inflation, which surged following the implementation of the government’s economic reforms, has started to moderate from its post-reform peak, although the high cost of food, transportation, housing, and other essential goods continues to affect households nationwide.
The presidential aide therefore urged organised labour to sustain dialogue with government rather than resorting to prolonged industrial actions, stressing that cooperation between both parties remains essential for national development.
He argued that industrial harmony is critical to sustaining economic recovery, attracting investment, and creating an environment conducive to job creation and long-term growth.
Gbajabiamila reiterated the administration’s commitment to maintaining open channels of communication with labour unions and other stakeholders as the country continues implementing economic reforms.
Speaking at the summit, the National Coordinator of Working People United for Good Governance (WOPU), Williams Akporeha, described the gathering as an unprecedented assembly of Nigeria’s productive workforce.
According to him, the organisation seeks to bridge the disconnect between government policies formulated at the federal level and the everyday realities experienced by ordinary Nigerians across the country.
He explained that WOPU was established not merely as a political advocacy platform but as a grassroots movement committed to ensuring that governance delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
“WOPU is not a mere political pressure group; WOPU is a grassroots volcanic movement. We serve to bridge the gap of distance between beautiful policies stated in our high-conditioned offices in Abuja and the lived realities of the family in Yobe, the trader in Onitsha, and the tech worker in Lagos,” Akporeha said.
He further stated that the organisation intends to play an active role in civic engagement and public sensitisation as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The summit brought together labour leaders, civil society organisations, policymakers, and workers from different sectors to discuss governance, economic reforms, workers’ welfare, and strategies for promoting inclusive development.
Gbajabiamila’s remarks are expected to generate renewed discussions within labour circles regarding the future of the national minimum wage, particularly as inflation continues to reduce the real value of workers’ earnings.
For many Nigerians, the government’s willingness to revisit the issue offers hope that workers’ incomes may once again be adjusted to better reflect the prevailing economic realities and ease the financial burden imposed by rising living costs.
