National Minimum Wage Act, 2019

The 2019 Act established a ₦30,000 national minimum wage and took effect on 18 April 2019. The 2024 amendment subsequently raised the minimum to ₦70,000 and shortened the review cycle to three years.

2024 amendment

The 2019 Act was amended in 2024. The national minimum wage is now ₦70,000 per month, with a three-year review cycle. See the 2024 amendment. The sections below describe the original 2019 provisions.

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ACT, 2019

What Is This Policy?

The 2019 national minimum wage legislation that raised Nigeria's minimum wage to N30,000 per month following tripartite negotiations among government, employers, and trade unions.

Who Does It Target?

All qualifying employers with 25 or more employees All workers in the formal sector The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Trade unions and employers' associations

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Set the 2019 national minimum wage at N30,000 per month, restore real wages eroded by inflation, and renew the social contract between workers, employers, and government.

Key Features

N30,000 Minimum: Establishes N30,000 per month as the national minimum wage for qualifying workers. Federal-State Applicability: Applies to all state governments and private employers with 25 or more workers. Review Clause: Provides for periodic review of the minimum wage through tripartite negotiation. Penalties: Employers who pay below the minimum wage face criminal prosecution and fines.

Current Status

Status: Amended in 2024 Coverage: Nationwide all qualifying employers Beneficiaries: Low-income workers; consumer economy Funding: Employer compliance

How to Access

The 2019 Act originally required qualifying employers to implement a N30,000 minimum wage Workers can report non-compliance with the applicable minimum wage to the Ministry of Labour The 2019 provisions required state governments to pay the then-applicable N30,000 minimum Application method: Report violations to the Federal Ministry of Labour.

Important Terms

N30,000 was the 2019 floor — collective bargaining can produce higher wages States may set higher minimums but not lower Federal public servants are covered by separate salary structures typically exceeding the minimum

Impact & Metrics

Implementation of N30,000 minimum wage improved earnings for millions of low-wage Nigerian workers.

Official Resources

Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Legal Framework

The National Minimum Wage Act 2019 is the primary legislation setting the national minimum wage in Nigeria. It derives constitutional authority from Section 17(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (just and humane working conditions). The Act operates alongside the Labour Act, the Trade Unions Act, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Act. International alignment is with ILO Convention 131 on Minimum Wage Fixing and the Decent Work Agenda.