The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider increasing the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N100,000 in response to the rising cost of living and economic realities facing Nigerian workers.
AbdulRazaq made the appeal during a meeting between President Tinubu and state governors held at the President’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the administration and the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The governor said the proposed wage increase would further improve workers’ welfare while helping them cope with inflationary pressures and declining purchasing power.
According to him, state governments are already engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to develop a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.
“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,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that discussions were focused on balancing improved remuneration for workers with the need for state governments to continue delivering critical infrastructure and social services.
The NGF chairman noted that many states had already adjusted their wage structures and were paying close to N100,000 as minimum wage despite the current national benchmark of N70,000.
AbdulRazaq also used the occasion to commend President Tinubu for the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, describing the decision as one of the boldest economic reforms undertaken by any Nigerian leader.
The governor disclosed that governors across the country had anticipated widespread protests and civil unrest following the announcement of the policy and consequently mobilised security agencies to maintain order.
“We were expecting serious riots because there had been protests for lesser issues before then. We mobilised security agencies across the states, but surprisingly there were no riots or protests anywhere,” he said.
According to him, the successful implementation of the subsidy removal policy has significantly improved the financial standing of state governments through increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
He explained that prior to the reforms, many states struggled to meet their financial obligations and often resorted to borrowing to pay salaries and fund development projects.
“Today, we have benefited immensely from that policy. In my state, there was a time when after paying salaries from our FAAC allocation, we were left with barely N100 million or N200 million,” he stated.
