Abuja, Nigeria — The federal government has stated it cannot meet the ₦494,000 minimum wage demand from organized labor, citing economic constraints. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, communicated this through his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Saturday.
Idris explained that fulfilling the ₦494,000 wage demand would result in an unsustainable ₦9.5 trillion expense for the government, potentially destabilizing the economy and leading to job losses, particularly in the private sector. He urged labor leaders to reconsider their stance and return to negotiations for a more realistic wage.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to worker welfare, noting that the Bola Tinubu administration will continue the ₦35,000 wage award to federal workers until a new minimum wage is agreed upon. He emphasized the need for a wage that balances fair remuneration for workers with the broader economic well-being of over 200 million Nigerians.