By the Editorial Board of CSR Reporters
In a country where the cost of living has continued to spiral upward and living wage continues to be a reach, the plight of the average Nigerian worker in the public and private sectors has become deeply concerning. Today, having a job no longer guarantees escape from poverty. It is an uncomfortable truth that too many Nigerians are forced to confront daily.
While we commend the recent decision by the federal government to raise the national minimum wage to ₦70,000, we must face reality: it is no longer enough. Inflation has rendered the new wage nearly as ineffective as the old one. Prices of food, transport, rent, and basic services have more than doubled in recent years. The truth is stark—₦70,000 is not a living wage in today’s Nigeria.
More troubling is the fact that the private sector has, in many instances, failed to align with this new wage benchmark. Across industries, we still witness staff earning as little as ₦50,000 or even less per month, especially in informal and unregulated establishments. This is unacceptable in a modern economy. It is unjust, unsustainable, and entirely inconsistent with any meaningful corporate social responsibility.
As a platform that champions ethical business practices, human dignity, and corporate accountability, CSR Reporters believes the time has come to draw a clear line: No Nigerian worker—regardless of sector, role, or region—should earn less than ₦100,000 per month.
We therefore call on the government at all levels to go beyond pronouncements. Enforcement is critical. Regulations must be enacted and implemented that require both public and private employers to pay a minimum living wage of ₦100,000. Any less is a denial of basic human dignity.
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We also challenge the private sector to lead, not lag, in this effort. True corporate responsibility goes beyond charity and annual CSR reports—it begins with how you treat your employees. It begins with paying them what they truly deserve. No company should claim to be socially responsible while underpaying its workers.
In the same vein, labour unions and civil society organizations must amplify this call. A collaborative national effort is needed to move Nigeria from the clutches of working poverty to a future where work is dignified and rewarding.
This is not just an economic issue; it is a moral one. We cannot continue to applaud GDP growth or investment inflows while ignoring the daily realities of our workforce. If Nigeria is to succeed, then the prosperity of its workers must be a national priority.
We at CSR Reporters believe in the transformative power of responsible business. Let’s begin by ensuring that no one who works full-time in this country lives in poverty.
The time to act is now.
