Isaac Fayose has called on President Bola Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s minimum wage to ₦200,000 amid rising living costs and inflation.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Isaac Fayose has urged President Bola Tinubu to review Nigeria’s current minimum wage and raise it to ₦200,000. Fayose said the existing ₦70,000 minimum wage no longer reflects the country’s economic realities and cannot adequately support Nigerian workers facing higher living expenses.
According to comments shared online by Fayose, many workers continue to struggle with rising food prices, transport costs and other essential expenses despite the recent adjustment of the national minimum wage. He argued that increasing workers’ earnings would help families cope with the economic pressure facing households across the country.
Fayose stated that “₦70,000 is nothing” in today’s economy and called on the Federal Government to consider a new wage structure that reflects inflation and the current cost of living. His remarks quickly gained attention on social media, where many Nigerians shared differing views on the proposal.
Some Nigerians supported the call, saying a significant increase in salaries would provide relief for workers and improve their standard of living. Others argued that raising wages alone may not solve the country’s economic challenges. They said the government should focus on improving economic conditions, increasing productivity and controlling inflation to protect the value of workers’ incomes.
Nigeria recently approved a new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 after months of discussions between the Federal Government and labour unions. The wage increase replaced the previous minimum wage and aimed to provide support to workers affected by economic reforms and higher living costs.
The development means discussions around workers’ welfare and economic policies may continue in the coming months as Nigerians assess the impact of the new minimum wage. It also places renewed attention on government efforts to address inflation and improve living conditions for millions of workers across the country.
