The United States has said Nigeria’s recently approved ₦70,000 minimum wage for federal workers has already lost its value due to the falling naira.
In its 2024 Human Rights Practices report, the US Department of State noted that the wage, pegged at about $47.90 per month, is no longer above the poverty line, with the naira trading at over ₦1,500 to the dollar.
The report also observed that firms with fewer than 25 workers are exempt, meaning many Nigerians are left out. It added that some states have yet to implement the wage, citing financial challenges.
Beyond wages, the report flagged weak enforcement of labor laws, child marriage concerns, arbitrary detentions, and judicial delays in Nigeria.
