An Abuja-based legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Adamu Kabiru Adamu, has urged Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to immediately approve and implement the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, citing worsening economic hardship faced by workers across the state.
In a letter addressed to the governor and dated 24 July 2025, Mr Adamu warned that the sharp increase in the cost of living, driven by fuel subsidy removal and persistent inflation, has left many public servants struggling to meet their basic needs.
“The current cost of living has skyrocketed due to fuel subsidy removal, inflation, and high prices of essential commodities, making it extremely difficult for average workers to sustain themselves and their families,” Mr Adamu wrote in the letter seen by *Premium Times*.
He argued that civil servants, as the backbone of government operations, deserve wages that are fair and reflective of current economic realities.
Wider Context
Mr Adamu’s appeal comes amid growing agitation nationwide for an upward review of the national minimum wage, last reviewed to ₦30,000 in 2019. Since then, steep inflation, naira devaluation, and the removal of fuel subsidies have eroded the real value of workers’ salaries.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have repeatedly called on both federal and state governments to adopt a realistic living wage to cushion the effects of current economic pressures.
In June, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, warned that the union may embark on nationwide industrial action if government fails to agree on a new wage framework that reflects present realities.
“Workers cannot continue to earn peanuts while the cost of feeding, transportation, and housing keeps rising every month,” Mr Ajaero said at a recent rally in Abuja. “Governments at all levels must take decisive steps to ensure that salaries match the cost of living.”
Kaduna’s Position
While some states, including Edo and Lagos, have announced plans to adjust salaries upward, Kaduna State is yet to make any official pronouncement on the new minimum wage.
Mr Adamu urged Governor Sani to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants by not only approving the ₦70,000 wage but also setting up a committee to ensure timely implementation.
“Kaduna State, known for progressive reforms, should not be left behind,” he said, adding that swift action would help boost morale and productivity in the public service.
Economic Pressures Mount
Economists have warned that without urgent measures, rising inflation — currently hovering above 33 per cent according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) — will continue to erode workers’ purchasing power.
For many households in Kaduna and across Nigeria, basic commodities such as rice, cooking oil, and transportation now consume a significant portion of monthly income, forcing many civil servants to resort to loans or side businesses to survive.
Mr Adamu expressed confidence that Governor Sani’s administration would respond favourably to the appeal in the interest of equity and justice.
At the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government had not responded to the letter.
