Nigerian president approves monthly minimum wage increase: adviser

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Abuja, Nigeria | AFP

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has agreed to more than double Nigeria's monthly minimum wage to 70,000 naira (around $43) as the country struggles with a severe cost of living crisis, his media adviser posted on X.

The new wage level applies to federal workers, from civil servants to airport staff and public teachers -- but the increase from 30,000 naira was far less than that demanded by labour unions.

"President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years," the president's media adviser Bayo Onanuga wrote on X on Thursday.

"President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage," he said.

Africa's most populous nation has seen a series of nationwide strikes in recent months as unions pushed for an increase in the wage.

During the protests union workers shut down the national grid, stalled domestic flights and closed most federal offices, ports, petrol stations and courts to demand the government increase its offer for a higher minimum salary.