The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said the N70,000 national minimum wage is no longer sufficient for Nigerian workers amid rising living costs and mounting economic pressures.
Keyamo made the remarks at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited, where he highlighted the growing financial difficulties facing workers across the country.
According to the minister, the continued increase in the cost of essential goods and services has weakened the purchasing power of workers, making a review of the minimum wage necessary.
He consequently urged the Federal Government to reach a compromise with organised labour as discussions over a possible wage adjustment continue.
Keyamo said labour unions were pushing for wages of up to N500,000, recalling the negotiations that eventually led to the increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024.
However, he noted that despite the 2024 adjustment, the current wage level had become inadequate in the face of the economic difficulties confronting workers.
The minister also raised concerns about the way some government institutions treat their employees, particularly cases where workers are denied basic allowances while senior officials allegedly approve substantial funds for international travel.
He criticised such practices, stressing that government workers remain essential to the functioning of the country.
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“I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country.
“It’s not the machines or everything that you have; it’s the human factor. Without that, no machine will move,” he said.
Keyamo’s comments come amid continued discussions around workers’ wages and the challenge of balancing employees’ demands with the wider economic situation.