The United States has said Nigeria’s N70,000 minimum wage is lower than its poverty level income.
The statement was made in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released on August 12, 2025.
According to the US Department of State, Nigeria’s minimum wage, currently valued at about $47.90 per month, has been severely eroded by the devaluation of the naira.
It added that wage enforcement remains weak across the country.
“The law provided for a national minimum wage for public and private sector employers with 25 or more full-time employees, with exceptions for seasonal agricultural workers, part-time workers, those on commission, and some others.
“The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 doubled the minimum wage to 70,000 naira ($47.90) per month. Despite the increase, currency devaluation meant the minimum wage was no longer higher than the poverty income level.