Urban News

Compliance with Nigeria’s new ₦70,000 minimum wage has been uneven across states and sectors. This is causing tensions and prompting calls for stronger enforcement and uniformity.

In early 2025, many states began implementing the new wage, as mandated by the federal government.

States like Rivers, Lagos, Edo, Kogi, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa not only complied, but some cases paid above the federal minimum. Oyo, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa set wages at ₦80,000.

Other states, including Cross River, Ebonyi, and some councils within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), delayed implementation or only partially complied by early 2025.

Within the FCT, only some area councils (Abaji, AMAC, Gwagwalada) had implemented the wage, while others (Kwali, Kuje, Bwari) had not.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour, has urged patience and promised to address non-compliance, requesting detailed lists of defaulters to take corrective action.

The Minister of Labour emphasized that many states were set to comply by January 2025, but some resistance and logistical challenges remained.

FG on ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has identified the unorganised private sector as the greatest area of non-compliance. Many workers reportedly earn far below the ₦70,000 minimum wage, sometimes as low as ₦15,000 to ₦20,000 monthly.

The NLC has vowed to intensify enforcement efforts targeting private employers, aiming to ensure all eligible workers receive the minimum wage. It emphasizes that the law protects workers in all sectors and non-compliant employers face sanctions.

Furthermore, labour leaders have expressed frustration over the slow and uneven implementation, warning of organised resistance against states and employers that fail to comply.

The NLC insists that wage payment is a legal obligation and calls for not only compliance but also more frequent wage reviews to keep pace with inflation and economic hardship.

Union officials have urged state governors to pay both the new wage and outstanding arrears to maintain industrial peace.

The uneven compliance has created tensions between workers, unions, and governments, with some workers feeling unfairly treated compared to counterparts in more compliant states.

It has also raised concerns about industrial harmony and the risk of renewed strikes if enforcement remains lax.

The federal government’s push for uniform enforcement and the threat of sanctions aim to reduce these disparities and ensure nationwide adherence.