Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to increase the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N100,000. The governor made the plea on Friday, May 29, during a visit by members of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) to the President at his Lagos residence. The delegation was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Governor's Appeal for Higher Minimum Wage
Speaking on behalf of some state governors, Abdulrasaq noted that several states have already begun paying N100,000 as the minimum wage. He urged President Tinubu to consider a national adjustment to that figure. 'On the issue of minimum wage, most of the states are paying almost N100,000 today, and I urge Your Excellency, let us have a discussion on moving the minimum wage to a minimum of N100,000. We know we will get the normal support from you as we go ahead to implement that,' he said.
Background on Minimum Wage Legislation
President Bola Tinubu had earlier signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024, which raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The current appeal seeks to further increase this benchmark to N100,000, reflecting the economic realities and cost of living challenges faced by workers across the country.
The Nigeria Governors' Forum continues to engage with the federal government on matters of national importance, including labor issues and economic policies. The visit to President Tinubu underscores the collaborative efforts between state and federal authorities to address the welfare of Nigerian workers.
