RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said Nigeria’s ₦70,000 national minimum wage is no longer adequate for workers as rising living costs continue to erode household purchasing power.
Keyamo spoke at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited, where he highlighted the financial pressures confronting Nigerian workers.
The minister said increases in the prices of essential goods and services had weakened the value of workers’ earnings, making further discussions on wages necessary.
He urged the Federal Government and organised labour to find common ground as conversations over workers’ remuneration continue.
Keyamo recalled negotiations that preceded the increase of the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 in 2024, noting that labour unions had initially demanded substantially higher wages.
Despite the adjustment, he said current economic realities had made the ₦70,000 wage increasingly inadequate for workers.
Keyamo also criticised the treatment of employees in some government institutions, particularly situations where workers struggle to receive basic allowances while senior officials approve substantial expenditure for foreign trips.
He stressed that workers were central to the effective functioning of government and should receive appropriate attention and support.
“I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country,” Keyamo said.
“It’s not the machines or everything that you have; it’s the human factor. Without that, no machine will move.”
His remarks come amid continuing debate over wages, inflation and the cost of living, as workers seek improved earnings to cope with prevailing economic conditions.
