Nigerian States Urged to Go Beyond ₦70,000 Minimum Wage, Says NECA DG

With the current economic challenges in Nigeria, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has stated that state governments have no justification for not paying civil servants more than the ₦70,000 minimum wage. The Director General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, made this assertion on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief,” emphasizing that increased federal revenue has rendered the “inability to pay” argument invalid.

Smatt-Oyerinde explained that given the rising cost of living and the burden of fuel prices, no state should remain at the ₦70,000 mark. While acknowledging efforts by some states to provide alternatives like CNG buses, he stressed that more action is needed to address core issues such as food security and shelter. The DG argued that once these fundamental needs are met, the focus would shift from the minimum wage’s quantity to its actual purchasing power.

He underscored the pivotal role of workers in both the public and private sectors as key drivers of the economy. According to Smatt-Oyerinde, improving their productivity and motivation is essential, and this requires addressing their basic needs. He likened the civil service to an “engine that drives the system,” highlighting that it is in the best interest of state governments to ensure this engine is well-maintained and its needs are met.

The NECA DG concluded that compensation is inextricably linked to productivity. He pointed out that workers should not be treated as a commodity but as a vital part of the economy. His comments follow President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the minimum wage bill into law in July 2024, which increased the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. While some states have already surpassed this mark, such as Imo (₦104,000), Ebonyi (₦90,000), and Lagos (₦85,000), the NECA DG’s statement serves as a call for a broader commitment to worker welfare across the nation.