- The Nigerian government and labour unions have been negotiating a new minimum wage since the turn of the year
- While the current minimum wage is 30,000, there have been different figures across Nigeria’s labour history
- Here is an overview of all the minimum wages that have been approved by the Nigerian government
The federal government and labour unions continue to be at loggerheads on what the new minimum wage should be.
A tripartite committee consisting of 37 members was established by the federal government in January 2024 to review the National Minimum Wage and as of today, the committee has yet to agree on a new rate.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) initially proposed N615,000 to reflect the current inflation Nigerian workers battle. However, the last suggestion of the government was N60,000 but Labour remains unmoved by the proposal and still expects a higher figure.
Before the current negotiations started, the minimum wage was N33,000, and before that a whole lot of other numbers.
History of minimum wage in Nigeria
Going back in history, before independence in 1960, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced the country's first minimum wage policy, paying Western Nigerians a minimum wage which started in October 1954. However, this was not passed into law.
The late President Shagari signed the first national minimum wage bill into law in September 1981. The salary was N125.
But what how has it been after that?
Nigeria’s Minimum Wage over the years
Here is an overview of all the minimum wages paid since the first one was passed into law:
Tenure Minimum Wage (N)
President Shehu Shagari (1979 to 1983) N125
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998 to 1999) N2500 for state, N3500 for federal
Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 to 2007) 5,500 for state and 7,500 for federal workers
Umaru-Musa-Yar-Adua (2007 to 2010) 18,000
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2010 to 2015) 18,000
Muhammadu Buhari (2015 - 2023) 30,000
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023 till present) ???
The current minimum wage situation
Here we are in 2024, having reached our current point of wage review after five years due to the Minimum Wage Act, which was approved by Muhammadu Buhari and required that wages be reviewed every five years.
As it stands, the federal government and the states have different opinions on the minimum wage, considering that some states are struggling to keep up with the current N30,000.
If the latest proposal by Labour were to be considered, going from N30,000 to N494,000 would be a 1,545% increase. Do you think the government can agree to pay this amount? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section or on social media.