Rita Odafe
The Nigerian government has announced a change in the frequency of minimum wage reviews, shifting from every five years to every three years.
This update was shared by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, during an event in Abia State on Thursday.
She stated that this shorter review period aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s promise to support Nigerian workers by ensuring the minimum wage is reassessed more frequently.
“We will not let the minimum wage review be an indefinite process,” she emphasized.
“Previously, reviews were done every five years. Now, in just under two years, we will re-evaluate the minimum wage again,” Onyejeocha added.
This announcement comes as the Trade Union Congress has been advocating for annual reviews of the minimum wage to better reflect the current economic conditions and the ongoing rise in inflation.
It is important to remember that last year, President Tinubu approved a minimum wage set at N70,000, with the commitment to review it every three years.
However, the impact of Nigeria’s increasing inflation rate, which reached 34.60 percent in November 2024, has affected the potential for minimum wage increases.
