Lagos NLC Demands ₦150,000 Minimum WaThe Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Chapter, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to raise the minimum wage of workers in the state to ₦150,000, citing the rising cost of living in Lagos.
Chairperson of NLC Lagos, Mrs. Funmi Sesi, made the demand on Thursday while reacting to recent wage increases announced by the governments of Imo and Ebonyi States.
Currently, Lagos State pays a minimum wage of ₦85,000. But Sesi argued that this figure no longer reflects the realities of living in Lagos, where the cost of accommodation, transportation, feeding, and utilities is higher than in many other states.
“The time has come for an upward review of minimum wage in Lagos. At least someone has taken the bull by the horn and opened the space.
No one can blame Gov. Sanwo-Olu now if he implements a higher wage for Lagos workers, because we deserve a better wage and decent work conditions that will be commensurate with the economic realities in the country, especially in Lagos,” she said.
Sesi welcomed the wage adjustments in the South-East, noting that it was “a bold step” that should inspire other states to follow suit.
“We can’t wait for an engagement with the government with a view to approving an improved welfare package for Lagos workers,” she added.
On Tuesday, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State approved a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for civil servants, up from ₦76,000. Similarly, the Ebonyi State Executive Council on Thursday announced an increase from ₦70,000 to ₦90,000 for its workers.
Labour leaders say these moves have set a precedent that puts pressure on Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub to act swiftly.
