NECA Urges States to Raise Workers’ Pay Beyond ₦70,000 Amid Soaring Living Costs

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on state governments to increase civil servants’ salaries beyond the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage, citing rising federal revenues and escalating living expenses.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NECA’s Director-General, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, argued that higher allocations from the Federation Account remove any justification for states to retain the ₦70,000 benchmark while citizens grapple with rising food, housing, and transport costs.

He stressed that workers are the backbone of both the public and private sectors, adding that improving their welfare directly impacts productivity and economic growth. “If you are hungry, facing shelter challenges, or struggling with transport costs, you cannot be productive at work,” he said.

NECA urged states to emulate those already moving above the ₦70,000 threshold. Recently, Imo State raised its minimum wage to ₦104,000, while Ebonyi State announced an increase to ₦90,000, both aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship on workers.