Loading...
SEVERAL STATES DELAYING MINIMUM WAGE IMPLEMENTATION AND CREATING TENSION
7 months ago
Many states have complied with or exceeded the minimum, while others stall. The private sector shows widespread violations.
Labour unions are escalating enforcement efforts, demanding uniform application and more frequent wage reviews, while the federal government seeks to enforce compliance to maintain industrial peace and protect workers’ rights.
President Bola Tinubu
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.
See Also
PayPal Back to Nigeria, From Blacklist to Fintech-Led Re-Entry
The re-entry comes amid Nigeria’s expanding gig economy, rising exports of digital services and increasing policy focus on non-oil foreign exchange inflows. Freelancers, software developers, creatives and small exporters have long cited PayPal restrictions as a structural disadvantage compared with peers in other emerging markets.
PayPal Returns to Nigeria With Paga Cooperation Launches Live Account Linking
Industry observers say the move could boost Nigeria’s freelance economy, support small exporters and digital entrepreneurs, and reduce reliance on informal or high-cost channels for receiving international payments, further integrating the country into the global digital payments landscape.
Popular Trends
Unharmed but Traumatized as the Welfare of the Returned Kidnapped Girls is Questioned
Twenty-four schoolgirls kidnapped from their boarding school in Kebbi State were reunited with authorities and families this week following a security operation.
The Niger school girls kidnap is prompting authorities to crank up security efforts. The girls appear largely unharmed but there is chance the trauma they experienced will go untreated with the record of Nigeria’s health system.
Dangote 1.4m BPD Upgrade Plans to Overtake India’s Jamnagar Refinery
At this point, only analysts are able to approximate the cost by comparing it with similar expansions globally, but the real number might be somewhere in between in reality.
Ibas Speaks on Completing Mandate, Return to Democratic Governance in Rivers State
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, worked under a federal mandate to restore order and prepare Rivers State for return to democratic governance.
US Updates Social Media Screening for Nigerian Visa Applications
US social media screening for Nigerian visa applicants now means full disclosure of account usernames for the last five years is mandatory.
Posts, images, contacts, and groups are scrutinized for signs of fraud, security risks, or inconsistencies.
ECOWAS Common Currency, ECO, Plan Could Relaunch if Accelerated
The “relaunch” is more of a renewed push and political commitment, especially led by President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast and ECOWAS leadership, to achieve the Eco’s adoption by 2026 or 2027.
US Visa Restrictions for Nigeria Updated to Reduce Validity
Nigerians have gone from enjoying long-term, flexible access to the US to a regime of short, single-use visas with additional checks and higher costs. The main drivers are reciprocity and security concerns, marking a sharp policy shift in mid-2025 compared to the previous five years
Still on the Topic
About 79 Nigerians Face Deportation in Worst-of-the-Worst Drive From the U.S. DHS
U.S. officials stressed that cooperation with receiving countries, including Nigeria, is critical to executing removals. While Nigeria has historically accepted deportees from the U.S., large-scale deportations require extensive diplomatic coordination and travel documentation.
Education Loan Scheme Offers Lifeline to Students as NELFUND Begins South-West Engagement
Education stakeholders say sustained advocacy and collaboration will be crucial to ensuring that eligible students fully benefit from the programme. More so, financial constraints do not hinder academic aspirations.
X
Unlock News Faster ...Sign Up
More Trending Topics
Ghana Agrees to Accept Nigerians Deported From the US
The government in Ghana is facilitating the logistical and administrative process to ensure the deportees return to their home countries safely and efficiently.
