BREAKING: Sources Mention Possible New Minimum Wage by Tinubu (Actual Amount Exposed)

Fresh tension is building between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government over demands for a new national minimum wage, with sources suggesting that President Bola Tinubu could consider a monthly wage beyond ₦200,000

However, the amount has not been officially confirmed as a fresh offer by the President, as consultations and discussions over the government’s response to labour’s demands continue.

The development comes amid growing pressure from organised labour for the government to review workers’ earnings in response to rising living costs, high petrol prices and the declining purchasing power of the naira.

Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that the ₦250,000 figure could feature in efforts to find a compromise between workers’ expectations and the government’s financial capacity.

President Tinubu is reportedly considering possible ways to ease the burden on Nigerian workers without placing unsustainable pressure on government finances, particularly as the cost of implementing a substantial wage increase remains a major concern.

The government is also expected to consider the implications for state governments and private-sector employers, who would be affected by any new national minimum wage agreement.

The latest disagreement intensified after the NLC issued the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum, beginning October 9, 2026, demanding a reduction in petrol prices and the commencement of fresh minimum wage negotiations.

In a communiqué issued after a meeting of its National Executive Council and Central Working Committee, the union argued that the existing ₦70,000 minimum wage had lost much of its value because of inflation, currency depreciation and rising living costs.

The labour body also demanded tax relief for workers, immediate wage awards to cushion economic hardship and the implementation of outstanding agreements with public-sector unions.

The NLC warned that failure to address its demands within the stipulated period could lead to further action.

The ₦250,000 figure is not new to Nigeria’s minimum wage debate. During the 2024 negotiations, organised labour demanded that amount, while the Federal Government and the organised private sector initially proposed ₦62,000.

President Tinubu subsequently approved ₦70,000, which became the national minimum wage under the law signed in July 2024.

NLC President Joe Ajaero has since questioned the adequacy of the existing wage, pointing to state governments that have approved minimum wages above the federal benchmark.

The renewed demand for negotiations reflects labour’s argument that workers’ earnings must be reassessed in line with current economic realities.

The President faces the challenge of balancing workers’ demands for better pay against concerns about the financial implications of a substantial wage increase.

While a ₦250,000 minimum wage would represent a significant increase from the current ₦70,000 benchmark, the government would need to consider its affordability, implementation arrangements and implications for different categories of employers.

Consultations could therefore focus on identifying a sustainable arrangement that improves workers’ purchasing power while taking account of the financial circumstances of the Federal Government, state governments and businesses.

For Nigerian workers, the central concern remains whether any eventual agreement will provide meaningful relief from the rising costs of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education.

As the dispute continues, attention is turning to whether the Federal Government will begin negotiations within the period demanded by labour and whether a new wage proposal will emerge from the discussions.

For now, the reported ₦250,000 figure remains unconfirmed, and no new minimum wage agreement has been officially announced.