The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Friday urged President Bola Tinubu to consider raising Nigeria’s national minimum wage from N70,000 to N100,000, citing improved revenues for state governments following the removal of fuel subsidies.
Speaking during a meeting between Tinubu and state governors at the President’s residence in Lagos, AbdulRazaq praised the president’s decision to end the long-standing petrol subsidy, describing it as a bold policy move that many politicians would have avoided.
“We were expecting serious riots because there were riots — #EndBadGovernance riots — even before then and for lesser issues,” AbdulRazaq said.
“Well, lo and behold, we spent money and mobilised the security agencies to secure the states. Lo and behold, on that day, nothing happened. There was no riot or protest anywhere,” he added.
The Kwara State governor said both federal and state authorities had anticipated widespread public backlash over the subsidy removal and had prepared security measures in response.
“I think the nation was shocked by the audacity of Mr President to implement that serious policy. Today, we’ve benefited immensely from that policy,” he said.
AbdulRazaq said the policy had significantly improved the financial position of state governments through increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“I can say as a matter of fact that, in my own state, when we receive the FAAC allocation, after paying salaries, we are left with only N100 million or N200 million,” he said.
According to the NGF chairman, many states are no longer relying on borrowing or bond issuances to fund salary payments and development projects.
He also noted that several states have already moved beyond the statutory minimum wage of N70,000 and are paying workers at least N100,000.
“I urge Your Excellency, let’s have a discussion on moving the minimum wage to a minimum of N100,000,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We know we’ll get support from you as we go ahead and implement that.”
Tinubu approved an increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in June 2024 after signing the new minimum wage legislation into law.
Under the legislation, the minimum wage is subject to review every three years. The previous minimum wage of N30,000 was approved in 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
