Aviation Minister Keyamo: N70,000 Minimum Wage Inadequate Amidst Soaring Living Costs

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has voiced concerns that the current N70,000 national minimum wage is no longer sufficient for Nigerian workers grappling with the escalating cost of living. The Minister made these observations during the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit, an event put together by XEM Consultants Limited. He highlighted how the continuous rise in living expenses has significantly diminished the purchasing power of workers, necessitating an urgent review of wages.

Keyamo appealed to the Federal Government to find common ground with organised labour in the ongoing wage negotiations. He pointed out that labour unions are currently pushing for a minimum wage as high as N500,000. Recalling the negotiations earlier in 2024 that resulted in the increase of the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, Keyamo emphasized that even this revised figure remains inadequate to shield workers from the intense economic pressures they are currently facing.

Furthermore, the Minister did not hold back in his critique of how some government agencies treat their employees. He specifically cited instances where workers are denied fundamental allowances, while senior officials allegedly approve substantial amounts for international travel. "I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country," Keyamo declared, underlining the indispensable role of the workforce. He stressed the importance of prioritising workers' welfare, asserting that human resources are fundamental to achieving productivity, effective public service delivery, and overall national development.

Also addressing the summit, Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), called for government intervention. Ajaero urged the government to implement measures to cushion workers and other Nigerians from the biting effects of increasing fuel, transportation, and food prices. He concluded by stating that wage negotiations should concentrate on the actual purchasing power of workers, rather than merely focusing on nominal salary figures.