ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijlsj.2025.12.010
Towards Labour Harmony in Nigeria: Examining the Prospects of Minimum Wage Federalism
Eunice Gandiba Tali
Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Abuja 900001, Nigerian.
*Corresponding author: Eunice Gandiba Tali
Published: December 15,2025
Abstract
Inadequate pay undermines fair earnings, while adequate compensation boosts motivation, harmony, and cooperation between employees and management or authorities. The centralization of minimum wage-setting in Nigeria has been a persistent source of industrial conflict, as many sub-national governments lack the fiscal capacity to implement nationally mandated rates. Adequate pay supports productivity, harmony, and cooperation among workers and management. While many countries maintain a central minimum wage, subnational units often have concurrent powers to set regional minima. This paper argues for the constitutional adoption of 'minimum wage federalism and argues that minimum wage governance should be placed on the concurrent list of the 1999 Constitution, with a periodic federal benchmark aligned to practices in federations such as the United States, Ghana, and India. A comparative analysis is offered to derive lessons and propose a lasting solution to recurring strikes in Nigeria while proposing a hybrid model.
Keywords
Minimum Wage; Right to Work; Industrial Strike; Legislature
References
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How to cite this paper
Towards Labour Harmony in Nigeria: Examining the Prospects of Minimum Wage Federalism
How to cite this paper: Eunice Gandiba Tali. (2025). Towards Labour Harmony in Nigeria: Examining the Prospects of Minimum Wage Federalism. International Journal of Law and Social Justice, 1(1), 71-76.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijlsj.2025.12.010