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Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has said the N70,000 national minimum wage is inadequate to withstand the economic pressures confronting Nigerian workers.

Keyamo, who spoke at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited, said the rising cost of living had eroded the purchasing power of workers, making an upward review of wages imperative.

He urged the Federal Government to meet organised labour halfway in ongoing discussions on workers’ wages, noting that unions were demanding as much as N500,000.

The minister, a former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, recalled the negotiations that preceded the increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024.

He said the current wage was still insufficient to absorb the economic shocks confronting workers.

Keyamo also criticised what he described as poor treatment of workers by some government agencies, particularly situations where workers were denied basic allowances while senior officials allegedly approved large sums for international trips.

“I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country,” he said.

The minister stressed that national development depended on prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the human factor as central to productivity and effective public service.

“It’s not the machines or everything that you [have]; it’s the human factor. Without that, no machine will move,” he said.

Keyamo said issues affecting workers’ welfare and productivity should receive priority over bureaucratic considerations, urging ministers and heads of government agencies to make workers’ interests a priority.

Also speaking at the summit, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, called on the Federal Government to use increased oil revenues to cushion workers and other Nigerians from the impact of rising fuel prices.

Ajaero said the recent increase in international oil prices had created additional revenue for oil-producing countries and urged the government to deploy part of the gains to support citizens facing higher transportation and food costs.

“As one of the oil-producing countries, they are making trillions because of the problem in the Strait of Hormuz. You can see that oil was pegged at maybe $70 or whatever dollars. It’s $100, so they are making an extra $30 or $40.

“Now, can’t you use this money to embark on some interventionary measures like other countries where this is affected, so that we’ll now be alive till the time when they will say minimum wage?”

Ajaero said minimum wage negotiations should focus on workers’ real purchasing power rather than nominal figures, taking into account inflation, fuel prices, food costs and other economic factors.

“Negotiations are not just figures,” he said.

He illustrated the point by saying that a nominally high wage could lose its value if the prices of basic commodities rose sharply.

“Assuming one naira is equal to $1, I would advise Nigerian workers to remain at ₦70,000 because that would be big money for them, but you can see that you can equally get one million naira and a bag of rice is ₦500,000, so what of that? What happens?”

Ajaero also advocated the indexation of wages and pensions to inflation or the cost-of-living index, arguing that such a mechanism would enable workers’ incomes to adjust automatically as economic conditions change.

“Unless you index it either based on cost of living index or inflation, immediately inflation goes like this, automatically it will adjust to this, as it is affecting pension, so it affects salaries; and those are some of the things that will enable us to agree on something.”

On minimum pension, the NLC president said it should be negotiated alongside the minimum wage because workers and pensioners were both affected by prevailing economic conditions.

He explained that the reduction of the minimum-wage review cycle from five years to three years was intended to allow wages to respond more quickly to changing economic conditions.

Ajaero said the next minimum-wage review was expected around March or April and that discussions should commence early.

“This minimum wage is supposed to expire March–April, so the conversation ought to start early. That’s a three-year cycle,” he said.

He, however, said labour’s immediate concern was how workers could cope with the current economic pressures before the next review.

“But now we are more concerned on ‘give us this day’ — how to survive today before that time. Because these policies of the fuel going up, jumping up, and the Nigerian government is making a whole lot of money from it.”

Ajaero also questioned the effectiveness of government measures designed to reduce transportation and energy costs, including the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme.

“Are we even producing enough in terms of food, reliance on food? Now, between that time and now, the most troublesome problem for a worker, which happened to be transportation — the CNG policy, did it work? Where and where can you refill your tank? How many vehicles have been converted to CNG? How many electric vehicles are on the road?”

He said controlling factors such as inflation, transportation costs, food prices and currency pressures would make it easier for workers to cope with prevailing economic conditions.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of XEM Consultants Ltd. and convener of the summit, Dr. Eugenia Ndukwe, said the event was designed to equip senior professionals with strategies and skills for a productive and fulfilling retirement.

Ndukwe said the summit focused on financial management and planning, health and wellness, entrepreneurship and investment, estate and wealth management, as well as agricultural enterprise systems.

She added that digital innovation was changing how people worked and earned income, creating opportunities for senior professionals to remain productive beyond formal employment.

According to her, XEM Consultants partnered Galaxy Backbone to provide participants with digital skills, knowledge and tools to explore opportunities created by technology.

Ndukwe said the summit was aimed at promoting a new approach to retirement in Africa and helping participants develop personalised retirement plans based on their financial circumstances, career goals, health needs and post-service aspirations.

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has said petrol costs more than ,000 per litre in the United Kingdom, claiming that Nigerians are “doing very well” with the current price of the commodity in the country.

Okpebholo stated this on Thursday while speaking at the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event in Edo State.

The governor said he visited London the previous week and decided to compare the price of petrol in the United Kingdom with what motorists pay in Nigeria.

“When we complained about cost of petrol, I was in London last week. I told my friend, ‘Let’s go and buy fuel just to know the cost of fuel between Nigeria and England.’

“Let me tell you, after conversion, it’s about 3,000-something for one litre of fuel,” he said.

Okpebholo said the comparison showed that Nigerians were getting petrol at a lower price.

“We are doing very well here. The President is stabilising the economy. He’s an economist,” he said.

His comment comes amid continued concerns over the cost of petrol and other essential commodities following the removal of petrol subsidy and subsequent changes in pump prices.

The governor said the economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government were difficult but would eventually yield results.

“Because what we are seeing in Nigeria today is a reform. And that reform that is ongoing is a very difficult one,” he said.

He likened the economic reforms to an aircraft taking off, saying passengers do not receive food until the plane reaches cruising altitude.

“I make an illustration. When a plane is taking off, do you see them serving food? Do you see air hostesses serving food in the plane? They will never give you food until that seatbelt is released. That means on a cruising level. That is when they will start serving food.

“I want to let you know, very soon Nigeria will be on the cruising level. Nigeria will be on a cruising level,” Okpebholo said.

The governor also pointed to road construction across the country as evidence of ongoing development under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Look at the kind of roads that are being constructed today—concrete pavement all over Nigeria,” he said.

Okpebholo spoke while expressing support for the Federal Government’s intervention on the Benin-Asaba Road, which has suffered deterioration and caused difficulties for motorists using the route.

The event, tagged “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road”, was held in connection with efforts to address the condition of the major highway linking Edo and Delta states.

The governor also used the occasion to endorse Tinubu’s continued presidency, saying those planning to challenge the President in 2027 should reconsider their plans.

“Is Aso Rock vacant? Is Aso Rock vacant? So Aso Rock is not vacant,” Okpebholo said.

He added, “I agree with the Oba of Benin that said, ‘You don’t change a working President.’”

Okpebholo also said the economic reforms would eventually place Nigeria on a “cruising level”, adding that Edo State and the country were in “safe hands”.

He said, “That means even when Asiwaju leaves, whoever President that comes in the future after his… I want to let them know that Edo is in a safe hand. Nigeria is also in a safe hand.”

The governor ended by thanking those who attended the event over their concern for the Benin-Asaba Road.

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The Chairman of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Umar Abdullahi, and four other kidnap victims have escaped from terrorists’ captivity and been received by troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

The five victims escaped in the early hours of Thursday in the general area of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, the victims escaped during an intelligence-led military operation targeting a suspected terrorists’ location in the area.

Danja said the victims were received by troops deployed in the vicinity after regaining their freedom.

“Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANAN YAMMA, have received and secured the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, and four other kidnap victims who escaped from terrorists’ captivity in the early hours of Thursday in the general area of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area,” the statement said.

Abdullahi was abducted from his residence in Bungudu town in July 2026. The Theatre Command had previously issued a statement concerning his abduction.

The military said the victims were provided with security cover and evacuated to a military medical facility after they were rescued.

“They were provided with security cover and evacuated to a military medical facility, where they are responding to treatment and undergoing evaluation and routine debriefing,” Danja said.

The victims are expected to undergo further assessment as part of the military’s routine process following their recovery from captivity.

The Joint Task Force also disclosed that one of the five victims had already been reunited with their family, while arrangements were being made to reunite the remaining victims with their families and the Zamfara State Government.

The Theatre Command commended the victims for their conduct during their captivity and their efforts to regain their freedom.

“The Theatre Command commends the courage, resilience and determination of the victims in regaining their freedom after a prolonged period in captivity,” the statement said.

It also praised the troops involved in receiving and securing the victims following their escape.

The command described the return of the victims as “a welcome relief” to their families, residents of Bungudu Local Government Area and the wider Zamfara State.

“The return of the victims is a welcome relief to their families and the people of Bungudu Local Government Area, and Zamfara State as a whole,” the statement said.

The development comes as security forces continue military operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and improving security in parts of Zamfara State and the wider North-West.

The Theatre Command said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA would sustain clearance and dominance operations across the general area to disrupt terrorist activities and protect communities.

“Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA will sustain clearance and dominance operations across the general area to disrupt terrorist activities and protect communities, and remain committed to securing the safe return of any other persons still held or missing,” Danja said.

Earlier in July, SaharaReporters reported that suspected bandits abducted the Chairman of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Bungudu, after attacking his residence in a late-night raid that left four security personnel dead.

The attack occurred in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometres from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

According to residents, the gunmen stormed the council chairman’s residence, where they engaged security personnel in a fierce gun battle before abducting the chairman.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the assailants killed two police officers and two vigilantes assigned to protect the chairman’s residence.

“They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer vigilante who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,” the source said.