Governors’ N100,000 Minimum Wage Proposal Reflects Impact of Tinubu’s Economic Reforms – TMSG

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described the recent proposal by state governors for an upward review of the national minimum wage to N100,000 as further evidence of the positive impact of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms on the finances of sub-national governments.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group noted that the governors’ position marks a significant departure from their stance in 2024 when many state governments expressed reservations about the Federal Government’s proposal of a N70,000 minimum wage.

The statement read in part:

“Like many Nigerians, we were pleasantly surprised to hear the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, propose a new national minimum wage of N100,000 during the governors’ Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu. It was indeed a remarkable development, considering that state governors have historically not been known to advocate for wage increases.

“We recall that just two years ago, several governors displayed considerable reluctance in accepting the Federal Government’s proposal of a N70,000 minimum wage.

“However, within months of the implementation of the new wage structure, a number of states independently increased workers’ salaries beyond the approved benchmark. Lagos and Rivers States, for instance, raised wages to N85,000, while Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu and Akwa Ibom adopted N80,000.

“Several others, including Ogun, Delta, Benue and Osun States, now pay between N75,000 and N77,000, while Imo State approved a minimum wage of N104,000 in September 2025.

“It is a matter of public record that many states struggled to consistently pay the previous N30,000 minimum wage before the advent of the Tinubu administration. The economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu have significantly increased allocations to states from the Federation Account, thereby improving their fiscal capacity.

“The fact that governors are now formally proposing a higher wage structure than the one adopted just two years ago amounts to a tacit acknowledgment that the states are more financially liquid than ever before. This is a welcome development.

“We are aware that many governors, particularly those serving second terms, have publicly admitted that their states now have more resources to execute critical infrastructure projects. Several states have also improved pension payments, while recent data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) indicates that states are no longer relying heavily on domestic borrowing to pay salaries.

“We therefore submit that the governors’ proposal is a testament to the effectiveness and resilience of President Tinubu’s economic reforms. It also demonstrates the growing capacity of states to respond to prevailing economic realities, including the cost-of-living pressures partly exacerbated by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

“Although any review of the national minimum wage will require due consultation and legislative processes, we are confident that President Tinubu will continue to prioritize the welfare of Nigerian workers and support measures that reflect current economic realities.”

The group urged Nigerians to view the current administration as one that remains committed to improving citizens’ welfare and strengthening the nation’s economic foundation, despite criticisms from opposition elements.