By Onilede Titi Faith
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged state governments to raise civil servants’ pay beyond the current ₦70,000 minimum wage, citing increased federal revenues and worsening living costs.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NECA Director-General, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, said allocations from the Federation Account have grown significantly, leaving states with no excuse to retain the ₦70,000 benchmark.
“So, no state really has an excuse in the context of the current reality to stay at that ₦70,000, especially with people struggling with the price of petrol,” he said. “While many states are rolling out CNG buses, more still needs to be done in food security and shelter.”
He stressed that the real issue was not the wage figure but its purchasing power amid rising food, transport, and housing costs.
According to Smatt-Oyerinde, improving workers’ welfare will directly impact productivity across both public and private sectors.
“Workers are key drivers of any state’s economy. Whatever improves productivity increases motivation.
“If you are hungry, facing shelter issues, or transport challenges, hardly would you be productive at work,” he explained.
NECA also urged governments to recognize the civil service as the “engine that drives the system,” insisting that easing workers’ hardships was essential to governance and development.
“Workers are important. Let’s treat them as the ILO said workers are not commodities,” the DG added.
The call comes as some states move beyond the federal minimum. On August 27, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma approved an increase from ₦70,000 to ₦104,000.
A day later, Ebonyi State announced a raise to ₦90,000 with immediate effect.
President Bola Tinubu had in July signed the National Minimum Wage Act, raising the wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
NECA’s latest push suggests states should now go further to reflect current economic realities.
