To commemorate May Day, the Nigerian government has announced a salary increase of 25 percent and 35 percent for certain categories of workers across the country.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) issued a statement confirming the raises, which apply to employees in the education, health, and security sectors.
The salary adjustments are retroactive to January 2024, with the lowest-paid government worker now earning 450,000 naira ($323.97) annually or 37,500 naira monthly.
This decision comes amid persistent calls from Nigeria’s labor unions for wage increases, prompted by economic challenges exacerbated by the removal of petrol subsidies by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year.
Consequently, inflation has surged to nearly 35 percent in March, marking the highest level in three decades, while the value of the Naira has sharply declined against the dollar, experiencing a 60 percent decrease.
