By Esohe Aifuwa
States Urged to Raise Minimum Wage Amid Rising Revenue
With increased revenue flowing into state coffers from the Federation Account, state governments have little reason to stick to the ₦70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, according to Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
Speaking on Channels Television’s, The Morning Brief, he emphasized that the financial boost leaves states better equipped to address workers’ needs, especially as Nigerians grapple with soaring living costs.
Smatt-Oyerinde highlighted the struggles of workers facing high petrol prices and other economic pressures, urging states to prioritize wages that reflect these realities. He argued that the value of the ₦70,000 minimum wage is not just about the figure but what it can actually buy for an average household.
Beyond wages, he called for broader measures to tackle food security and housing, which would ease the burden on workers and improve their quality of life.
He stressed that civil servants are the backbone of any state’s economy, driving both public and private sector productivity. “When workers are hungry or lack proper shelter and transport, their output suffers,” Smatt-Oyerinde said. He urged state governments to view their workforce as critical to progress, not just as labor, echoing the International Labour Organization’s stance that workers are not commodities.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the Minimum Wage Act into law, raising the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 after months of negotiations. Some states have since gone beyond this benchmark.
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Imo State, for instance, raised its minimum wage to ₦104,000 in August 2024, while Ebonyi State announced ₦90,000 for its workers. Lagos State followed suit in October 2024, setting its minimum wage at ₦85,000, and Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Bayelsa adopted ₦80,000. Osun State also approved ₦75,000 in November 2024.
Smatt-Oyerinde noted that supporting workers with better wages and living conditions would boost morale and productivity, aligning with ongoing economic reforms. He encouraged states to see their civil service as the engine of growth and to act swiftly to address their welfare.
