RismadarVoice Reporters
May 30, 2026
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has disclosed that state governors are considering a new national minimum wage of N100,000 in response to rising economic hardship across the country.
AbdulRazaq disclosed in a Facebook post on Saturday, explaining that the proposal was driven by inflation, the increasing cost of living and the growing financial burden on Nigerian workers.
According to him, state governments are currently consulting with the Federal Government and organised labour to develop a wage structure that improves workers’ welfare while remaining financially sustainable for governments.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq stated.
The NGF chairman added that discussions were ongoing to ensure that any new wage framework would not place excessive financial pressure on state governments.
“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,” he said.
He explained that the consultations were focused on balancing workers’ purchasing power with the need for governments to continue providing essential public services and executing development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain development projects that directly impact citizens,” he noted.
AbdulRazaq stressed that while workers deserve better remuneration, policymakers must also take into account the fiscal realities facing subnational governments.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to generate further national debate on wages, inflation and economic reforms as many Nigerians continue to grapple with rising food prices, transportation costs and other living expenses.
Workers across the country have repeatedly expressed concerns that current earnings are no longer sufficient to meet basic household needs amid prevailing economic challenges.
Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage currently stands at N70,000 per month.
However, several states, including Lagos State, Rivers State and Imo State, are reported to be paying above the national benchmark as part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to advocate for a comprehensive review of workers’ salaries, insisting that Nigerian workers deserve a living wage capable of meeting current economic realities rather than one that merely guarantees survival.
