State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.

“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.

“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”

The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.

“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.

The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.

Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.

The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.

The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.

The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.

The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.

A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.

Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.

However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.

At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.

The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.

Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.

Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.

In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.

At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.

Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.

Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.

According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.

Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.

The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.

The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.

Teachers and civil society groups in Oyo State on Friday staged a peaceful but passionate protest in the state capital, demanding urgent government intervention to rescue teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.

The protest, organised by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group in partnership with the Nigeria Teachers Congress (NTC), highlighted growing fears over the safety of schoolchildren and educators in the state.

The abducted victims were taken on May 15, 2026, from Esiele and Yawota communities in Ogbomoso, sparking outrage across the state.

Addressing the demonstrators, Reverend Bunmi Thomas, NTC National President, said the protest was lawful and intended to pressure the government into swift action.

“We are standing with the families of the kidnapped teachers and pupils. Our demand is simple: secure their release immediately and attach security to all government schools. We cannot continue to teach in fear,” Thomas said.

He added that the protest was not against Governor Seyi Makinde, whom he praised for his performance, but stressed the need for continuous updates on rescue efforts.

Responding to the protest, Sunday Odukoya, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, assured participants that the government was actively working to free the abducted teachers and pupils.

“It is your constitutional right to protest and draw attention to this grave matter. Governor Makinde has been personally involved in the rescue operation since the abductions occurred,” Odukoya said.

He also warned that sensitive operational details could not be disclosed publicly to avoid jeopardising ongoing efforts, but reassured teachers that no participant in the protest would face harassment or victimisation.

Despite the assurances, the protesters called for greater urgency, highlighting the trauma faced by the victims in captivity.

“We are appealing to the government’s moral conscience. Our teachers and pupils must be returned safely. This is not a political statement, but a humanitarian call,” the Oyo State Teachers Action Group said.