State governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider raising Nigeria’s national minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 as economic hardship and inflation continue to affect workers across the country.

The proposal was disclosed by the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, during a meeting between President Tinubu and state governors in Lagos as part of activities marking the administration’s third anniversary and the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

According to AbdulRazaq, the proposed increase is being driven by the rising cost of living, persistent inflation, and growing financial pressure on Nigerian workers. He stated that state governments are already engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to develop a wage structure that would improve workers’ welfare while remaining sustainable for government finances.

The NGF chairman noted that many states have witnessed improved revenues following economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, and argued that workers should benefit from the gains. He added that consultations are ongoing to ensure that any wage increase does not negatively affect states’ ability to fund infrastructure projects and other public services.

Nigeria’s current minimum wage of ₦70,000 was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024, replacing the previous ₦30,000 benchmark introduced in 2019. Under the law, the minimum wage is subject to periodic review.