Nigeria’s civil servants have called on the federal government to reassess the recently approved national minimum wage of ₦70,000, arguing that it no longer provides adequate support amid a worsening economic climate.
Mr Samuel Adekunle, Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the National Forum of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (NAFOHEADS), said in Osogbo on Wednesday that the wage has been rendered ineffective by runaway inflation and skyrocketing living costs.
Speaking during a multi-faith service held to commemorate the 2025 African Civil Service Week, Adekunle noted that while the minimum wage came into effect less than a year ago, it has already failed to keep pace with economic pressures.
“Since the wage was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024 and implemented in September, the realities of inflation have overtaken it,” he explained. “What was intended as relief for workers has quickly become inadequate.”
Adekunle, who also heads the National Gallery of Arts in the state, appealed for a revised wage structure that genuinely reflects the cost of living in Nigeria today.
He further explained that the inter-denominational service was organised as a moment of reflection and prayer for both civil servants and national development. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Federal Civil Service and Sustainable Development in a Developing Economy,” highlights the role of public service in addressing development challenges.
He warned that without a responsive and supportive wage policy, the morale and productivity of civil servants — vital to the functioning of Nigeria’s institutions — could be severely undermined.
