N70,000 Minimum Wage No Longer Enough for Workers, Keyamo Tells FG

 Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said Nigerian workers can no longer cope with the current N70,000 national minimum wage amid growing economic pressures and rising household expenses.

Keyamo urged the Federal Government to reach a compromise with organised labour as discussions over workers’ wages continue.

Speaking at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit, the minister said the rising cost of living had significantly eroded workers’ purchasing power, making an upward review of wages necessary.

He noted that organised labour was demanding as much as N500,000, recalling the negotiations that preceded the increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024.

Despite the previous increase, Keyamo said the N70,000 minimum wage was still insufficient to protect workers from the economic shocks and financial pressures they currently face.

The minister also criticised the treatment of workers in some government agencies, particularly instances where employees struggle to receive basic allowances while senior officials approve substantial sums for international travel.

He stressed that workers remain central to the functioning and development of any nation, arguing that the country cannot function effectively without the contribution of its workforce.

According to him, machines, equipment and other resources cannot deliver results without the human effort required to operate and manage them.