Nigeria is heading toward another major conversation over workers’ pay as the Federal Government begins preliminary consultations ahead of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The development comes as organised labour pushes for a substantial increase from the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage, citing rising living costs and declining purchasing power. However, the government has stressed that formal negotiations have not yet begun and that no official new wage figure has been announced.
Here are 10 things workers should know about the fresh talks:
1. The Federal Government has started preliminary consultations
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, said on September 22, 2026, that background consultations on a new minimum wage were already underway.
However, he clarified that the government had not fixed a timetable for formal negotiations. The government is expected to make details of its proposals public when the process reaches the appropriate stage.
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNEL2. The current national minimum wage is ₦70,000
Nigeria’s current national minimum wage is ₦70,000, following the 2024 wage negotiations.
The Federal Government increased the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 in July 2024, and President Bola Tinubu subsequently signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law.
3. Labour is demanding ₦500,000
The latest pressure from organised labour includes a proposed ₦500,000 minimum wage.
The Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has called for negotiations toward a new wage structure, while the Nigeria Labour Congress has also backed the demand for a substantial increase.
Importantly, ₦500,000 is a labour demand, not a figure approved by the Federal Government.
4. Workers want relief before a new wage is agreed
Labour’s demands are not limited to a new minimum wage.
The JNPSNC Trade Union Side has also called for an immediate wage award, as well as reviews of salaries and allowances, arguing that workers need relief while negotiations over a new minimum wage continue.
5. Fuel prices have become part of the wage debate
Petrol costs have become a major issue in the latest discussions.
Workers have called for petrol to be stabilised at ₦500 per litre, linking high transportation and living costs to the pressure for higher wages. Recent petrol price increases have added to cost-of-living concerns.
6. The review cycle has been shortened from five years to three
One important change introduced during the 2024 minimum-wage process was reducing the review period.
The previous framework provided for a five-year review cycle, while the 2024 arrangement moved the cycle to three years. The change was intended to allow more frequent wage reviews in response to economic conditions.
7. July 2027 is an important date
The three-year cycle means 2027 is the key year for the next statutory review of the minimum wage.
Labour has therefore been pushing to begin negotiations ahead of the formal review period, rather than waiting until the last moment. Reports in June indicated that organised labour planned to commence negotiations in July 2026.
8. The government has not announced a new wage figure
Despite the ₦500,000 demand, Nigerians should distinguish between proposals and an officially approved minimum wage.
As of September 23–24, 2026, the government had not announced a new national minimum wage or formal negotiation timetable. The consultations currently underway are preparatory.
9. Cost of living will be central to the discussions
The new negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of significant pressure on household budgets.
Food, transportation, housing and energy costs have all become important issues in discussions about workers’ purchasing power. Reuters reported in September that petrol prices had risen sharply in Nigeria amid higher global oil prices, adding to renewed cost-of-living pressure.
This means negotiations are likely to involve not only the wage amount but also broader questions about workers’ purchasing power and the cost of implementing any new wage structure.
10. The final figure will have to emerge from negotiations
The ₦500,000 proposal should therefore not be presented as Nigeria’s new minimum wage.
The eventual figure will depend on the negotiations among the relevant stakeholders, including government, organised labour and employers. The government has said it will release further details when the process reaches the appropriate stage.
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