Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni, has revealed that the Federal Government was prepared to implement a N150,000 minimum wage but faced opposition from state governments, local councils, and private sector representatives over affordability concerns.
Speaking at the Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards in Abuja, Goni said the proposal stalled during negotiations because other employers argued they lacked the financial capacity to sustain the wage increase. The event, organised by the Bureau of Public Service to mark the 2026 United Nations Public Service Day, was held under the theme, “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation and Inclusion.”
Goni, who chaired the Minimum Wage Negotiations Committee, described the talks as difficult and prolonged, involving state governments, local councils, labour unions, and private sector representatives.
“The Federal Government was willing to pay N150,000 as minimum wage for workers, but the states and local governments said they could not afford it,” he said. He added that private sector representatives warned that rising fuel costs and electricity tariffs would force businesses to downsize if required to pay the proposed wage.
Goni called for an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to remove minimum wage from the concurrent legislative list, allowing states, local governments, and private employers to determine wages based on their financial capacity.
