The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that the Federal Government is preparing to review Nigeria’s national minimum wage, acknowledging that the current ₦70,000 benchmark no longer reflects the country’s economic realities.
Gbajabiamila made the announcement on Thursday while speaking at an event organised by Working People United in Abuja.
According to him, although the ₦70,000 minimum wage approved by the Tinubu administration in 2024 marked a significant achievement, rising living costs and current economic conditions have made it necessary for the government to reassess workers’ salaries.
“₦70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” he said.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives assured Nigerian workers that the Federal Government would engage with organised labour in a collaborative manner once the review process officially begins.
“I can confirm to you that when the time comes to begin the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, this administration will approach that endeavour not as an adversary of labour, but as a partner,” Gbajabiamila stated.
He further stressed that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to ensuring Nigerian workers receive fair and appropriate compensation for their contributions to national development.
According to him, the President has consistently demonstrated his commitment to improving workers’ welfare and intends to maintain that approach during future wage negotiations.
Gbajabiamila also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the government and organised labour, noting that meaningful progress can only be achieved through dialogue rather than confrontation.
He urged labour unions and workers’ organisations to continue working closely with the government, emphasizing that governance is a shared responsibility between leaders and citizens.
“It must be said that good governance is not a performance stage by government for the benefit of a passive audience; it is a partnership between those who govern and those who are governed,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging labour leaders to embrace constructive engagement, stating that sustained dialogue has consistently produced better outcomes than prolonged disputes.
The Federal Government has yet to announce a timeline for the commencement of the minimum wage review or indicate what a revised wage could be.
