Nigeria minimum wage 2026
Nigeria's national minimum wage is ₦70,000 ($52.76) a month under the National Minimum Wage Act 2024, up from ₦30,000.
Nigeria has one national minimum wage, set per month by Act of the National Assembly. Here's the current figure, how much it rose in 2024, and what it means in US dollars and for hiring remote staff in Nigeria.
Checked 29 Oct 2026 against the official sources linked on this page. General information, not legal advice.
Nigeria at a glance
- Minimum wage
- ₦70,000/month
$52.76. For the whole country, under the National Minimum Wage Act 2024. Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
- For comparison: freelance VA rate on Upwork, Nigeria
- $8–12/hr
What virtual assistants in Nigeria list on Upwork. Upwork (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
US dollars. US Treasury, Reporting Rates of Exchange (opens in a new tab), rates as of 30 Sep 2026
National minimum wage
National minimum wage
- Per month
- ₦70,000$52.76
| Area | Per month |
|---|---|
| National minimum wage | ₦70,000$52.76 |
In force from 2024. Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026.
How the rate changed
- Per month
- ₦30,000
National Minimum Wage Act 2024
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab)
- Per month
- ₦70,000+133%
What's changing and what counts
After the Act, the federal government and labour signed a memorandum on matching pay rises for federal workers already above the minimum.
Federal Ministry of Information, Consequential Salaries Adjustments Committee: FG and Labour sign MoU (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
The federal government describes the rise from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 as a 133.33% increase.
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
Hiring a remote worker in Nigeria
Full-time at the minimum comes to about ₦70,000 ($52.76) a month. What remote staff charge is on the country guide.
Minimum wage law covers employees working for employers in that country. A remote contractor who works for a business abroad usually isn't covered in the same way, so the floor is a reference point, not a pay rate to aim for: most remote roles pay well above it. This is general information, not legal or tax advice; check the official source or a local adviser for your case.
How we worked out the numbers
Nigeria sets its minimum per month. USD uses the US Treasury rate for 30 Sep 2026, ₦1,326.78 to $1.
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
Every US dollar figure uses one dated rate per currency, the US Treasury's reporting rate for 30 Sep 2026.
US Treasury, Reporting Rates of Exchange (opens in a new tab), rates as of 30 Sep 2026
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
- Federal Ministry of Information, Consequential Salaries Adjustments Committee: FG and Labour sign MoU (opens in a new tab), Sep 2024, checked 29 Oct 2026
- US Treasury, Reporting Rates of Exchange (opens in a new tab), rates as of 30 Sep 2026
Nigeria minimum wage questions
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