Lagos NLC Demands N150,000 Minimum Wage, Cites Rising Living Costs

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the state government to raise workers’ minimum wage to N150,000, arguing that the current N85,000 wage no longer reflects the realities of the high cost of living in the state.

The demand was made on Thursday by the Lagos NLC Chairperson, Funmi Sesi, following recent wage increases in Imo and Ebonyi states.

Sesi noted that Lagos workers face steeper expenses in accommodation, transportation, feeding, and utilities compared to other states. She urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take decisive action, stressing that civil servants in Lagos deserve better pay and decent working conditions.

“The time has come for an upward review of minimum wage in Lagos. At least someone has taken the bull by the horns and opened the space,” Sesi declared.

She argued that no one would fault Governor Sanwo-Olu if he approves a higher wage for workers, adding that it would align with the trend set by other state governments.

Her remarks come after Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State raised the minimum wage for civil servants from N76,000 to N104,000, while the Ebonyi State Government recently approved an increase from N70,000 to N90,000.

Sesi expressed confidence that more states would soon follow suit.