Inside civil servants’ battle with wages

Civil servants across several Nigerian states are struggling for survival as the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, education and healthcare continues to erode their monthly earnings, with workers saying their salaries often run out before the end of the month.

Weekend Trust’s findings across states show that even with minimum wages ranging between N62,000 to N85,000, many workers still struggle to meet their families’ basic needs, forcing some to borrow from cooperatives, banks, colleagues and other sources, while others depend on farming, petty businesses and side jobs for survival.

The pressure is particularly severe among lower-cadre workers, whose earnings are often insufficient to cover rent, food and transport before other household expenses are considered. Some workers noted that they had resorted to reducing their food consumption, abandoning personal vehicles, seeking free rides from colleagues, neighbors and taking up additional work after official hours.

The findings come against the backdrop of the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) cost-of-living data and continuing concerns over the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

According to its latest Transport Fare Watch, the NBS said the average fare paid by passengers for bus journeys within Nigerian cities rose to N1,431.25 per trip in May 2026, up 2.43 per cent from N1,397.27 recorded in April. Compared with May 2025, the average intra-city bus fare increased by 38.63 per cent from N1,032.46.

According to the report, the average intercity bus fare rose to N9,699.55 in May 2026 from N9,607.41 in April, representing a 0.96 per cent monthly increase and a 21.89 per cent increase from N7,957.41 recorded in May 2025.

Based on a N1,589 healthy-meal cost confirmed by an NBS official as a per-meal figure, a person would require N4,767 daily for three meals, amounting to N143,010 over 30 days. This is N73,010 more than the N70,000 national minimum wage, before accounting for accommodation, transport, electricity, school fees, healthcare and other necessities.

At that benchmark, a worker earning N70,000 could afford about 44 meals, equivalent to roughly 15 days of three meals daily. Across the states surveyed, workers said the official minimum wage increases had not translated into sufficient purchasing power to meet the cost of living.

Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos workers complain despite higher wages

In Rivers and Bayelsa states, civil servants receive minimum wages of N85,000 and N80,000 monthly, respectively, following approvals by Governors Siminalayi Fubara and Douye Diri in November 2024. Despite earning above the N70,000 national minimum wage, workers in both states say the increases hadn’t kept pace with the cost of living, particularly accommodation, food and transportation. In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, a one-bedroom flat costs between N400,000 and N500,000 annually, depending on the location, while accommodation in highbrow areas can cost up to N1 million a year. A two-bedroom flat goes for between N1 million and N1.5 million.

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, a one-bedroom flat also costs between N400,000 and N500,000 annually, while a two-bedroom apartment costs about N1 million or slightly more, depending on the area.

This means that an average annual salary of N1,020,000 or N960,000 in Rivers and Bayelsa State respectively can not afford basic accommodation for civil servants yearly in addition to food and other necessities.

Food prices add to the pressure. A crate of eggs sells for between N5,800 and N6,000 in the two cities, while a 50kg bag of locally produced rice costs between N55,000 and N65,000, depending on the brand.

A civil servant with the Bayelsa State Sanitation Authority, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said her salary could hardly meet her family’s needs, especially with the cost of transportation and other household expenses.

She said proceeds from her family’s petty business had become necessary to supplement her earnings.

“Before now, government approved three days for work every week for us. That helped us to use the two remaining days to do farming; it also saved us from transport cost. But now, they have reverted to five days of work per week,” she said.

“Civil servants are really going through a lot, especially those in lower cadre. There is nothing to take home from the salary,” she stated.

Another civil servant in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment said the N80,000 minimum wage needed to be reviewed because the prices of petroleum products and food had risen considerably since the state approved the wage in 2024.

He said electricity bills, feeding, transportation and children’s education consumed a substantial part of workers’ earnings.

Public primary education is free in Rivers and Bayelsa, according to the findings, although parents still pay some levies, including Parent-Teacher Association charges of between N500 and N2,000 per pupil, in addition to expenses on textbooks and uniforms.

Parents who opt for private schools face considerably higher bills.

Lagos State pays N85,000 as minimum wage, but some civil servants said their earnings remained insufficient to meet the cost of housing, food, education and transportation in the commercial centre.

The cost of a single room is about N500,000 annually, while a room and parlour costs approximately N1 million. A two-bedroom flat can cost about N2 million a year.

Primary school fees vary according to location, with some schools charging about N40,000. A 50kg bag of rice sells for between N55,000 and N60,000, a measure of beans costs about N1,200, and a crate of eggs sells for approximately N6,500.

A Level 12 civil servant, who asked not to be named, said his monthly take-home pay of slightly more than N200,000 was insufficient to cater for his family.

“I’m a Level 12 officer with BSc. and my take-home is N200k plus,” he said.

He called for improved workers’ welfare and noted that salary structures differed across ministries.

Debts gulp salaries in Kaduna, Gombe, Kano

In Kaduna State, workers reported receiving between N62,000 and N72,000 monthly, with some claiming that their actual take-home pay remained around N62,000 despite the state government’s minimum-wage adjustment.

A simple flat in areas such as Hayin Malam Bello Quarters, Tudun Wada and Sabon Gari New Extension costs about N250,000, depending on the building. Primary school fees start at approximately N25,000 per child, while a 50kg bag of rice sells for N63,500 and a crate of eggs costs about N5,500.

A civil servant and teacher, who identified himself simply as Abdullahi to avoid victimisation, said much of his salary went towards repaying debts because his earnings were insufficient to cover his needs.

“We are paid N70,000 monthly because the government hasn’t implemented the full minimum wage as claimed. So, considering the economic hardship, how do you expect us to survive?” he asked.

He said he knew a colleague who was left with only N15,000 after collecting his salary and settling his debts.

“I know a friend and colleague who, after collecting his salary and paying debt, ends up with only N15,000 for the rest of the month. So, we aren’t finding things easy as state civil servants,” he said.

In Gombe State, civil servants in both state and local government employment receive N70,000 as the minimum wage, but workers said the amount was insufficient to sustain their households amid rising living costs.

A simple self-contained room on the outskirts of Gombe metropolis costs about N100,000 annually, while private primary school fees start at around N15,000 per child per term.

For a worker with three children in private primary school, fees alone could amount to N45,000 per term, taking up more than half of the monthly minimum wage before food, accommodation and transportation are considered.

Market checks showed that a measure of local rice sells for between N1,500 and N1,600, a measure of beans for between N1,400 and N1,500, and a crate of eggs for about N5,500.

Musa Ibrahim, a civil servant with the state Ministry of Education, said teachers and other low-income workers were struggling to provide for their families.

“The N70,000 cannot last more than two weeks. If you buy rice, beans and other foodstuff, you have spent almost all your salary. We are just managing, borrowing from one month to pay for the other. It is only with Allah’s help that we still manage to survive,” he said.

And in Kano State, the government has been paying N71,000 as minimum wage since November 2024, but workers said the adjustment had not shielded them from the rising cost of living.

Private primary school fees range from about N15,000 per term in low-cost schools to between N40,000 and N120,000 in mid-range institutions. Some premium schools in areas such as Nassarawa GRA and Farm Centre charge N300,000 or more per term, while boarding schools cost between N200,000 and N900,000 per term.

Food prices also vary widely. Checks by Weekly Trust showed that a 50kg bag of rice sells for between N52,000 and N82,000, while a bag of beans costs between N40,000 and N70,000. A crate of eggs sells for between N4,500 and N6,500.

Amina Yusuf, a Kano-based civil servant, said her monthly salary of N90,000, including allowances, was insufficient after paying school fees for her two children.

“My salary is N90,000 including allowances, but after paying N60,000 for my two children’s school fees each term, I am left with little for food and transport. I borrow from cooperatives almost every month to survive,” she said.

Musa Abubakar, a Grade Level 07 teacher, said his monthly earnings of slightly more than N100,000 had not made life easier because of the cost of food and other necessities.

“With a little more than N100,000 monthly pay, I thought life would be easier. But rice alone is over N50,000 a bag, beans N50,000, and eggs N6,000 a crate. By mid-month, I am already in debt. The minimum wage increase has not solved our problems,” he said.

Benue , Kwara workers depend on farming, cut food consumption

In Benue State, civil servants receive a minimum wage of N75,000, but workers said rising prices of food, accommodation and education had made it increasingly difficult to meet their families’ needs.

Saater Tyoyenda, a civil servant, said his family of four was barely surviving on his earnings.

“My family of four live from hand to mouth. We are barely surviving,” he said. Another worker, Kate Abi, said she relied on farming to supplement her salary and provide for her family of six.

Abi said the pressure on household finances had forced her family to reduce consumption of some foods so they could afford other necessities.

“It’s really difficult, but in order to make ends meet, I farm. Also, we have cut down on our taste for certain foods so we can be able to purchase other things,” she said.

A survey by WeekendTrust showed that a rubber of rice costs between N6,000 and N7,500, depending on quality, while a rubber of beans sells for between N4,500 and N6,000. A crate of eggs costs between N5,000 and N8,000, depending on size.

Annual rent for a modest flat range from N350,000 to N650,000, while the cheapest private primary schools charge between N45,000 and N60,000 per session.

In Kwara State, civil servants note that their monthly earnings are consumed by transportation, food, accommodation and school expenses.

A Level 12 civil servant, who asked not to be named because he wasn’t authorised to speak publicly, said his salary was barely enough to meet basic household needs.

He said a simple flat in Ilorin costs between N300,000 and N500,000 annually, depending on the location, while a 50kg bag of rice sells for about N55,000.

He put Parent-Teacher Association levies at about N1,450 at the school attended by his children, although other educational and household expenses added to the financial burden.

“From the cost of transportation, food and shelter, we can see that the salary is grossly inadequate. That is why most civil servants are involved in other businesses to make ends meet,” he said.

A teacher in the state said the minimum wage was N70,000, translating to about N82,000 monthly before deductions for the National Health Insurance Scheme and other charges, which she said could exceed N2,000.

She said school fees and other charges at her school exceeded N2,000, excluding other education-related expenses at home.

The teacher said a two-bedroom flat in the Mandate area of Ilorin costs about N700,000 annually, while a measure of beans sells for between N2,300 and N2,500. A crate of eggs costs about N6,500.

She said transportation expenses had forced some workers to leave their personal vehicles at home and seek free rides from colleagues travelling along the same routes.

“We can see that the salary is barely enough. By the time you spend money on transportation or try to fuel your car, there is hardly anything left,” she said.

“That is why we have dropped our cars at home and look for free rides from colleagues who are better off and pass through the same route with us. I spend N1,000 at least to come to work.”

N75,000 can’t sustain Edo, Kogi families

In Edo State, the government pays N75,000 as minimum wage, about N5,000 above the federal benchmark. However, workers said the amount was inadequate to meet the needs of their families.

A two-bedroom flat costs between N250,000 and N400,000 annually, according to findings by Daily Trust, while a three-bedroom flat ranges from N400,000 to N1 million, depending on the location.

Public schools are relatively free, but parents who enrol their children in private schools face higher charges. An average private school costs between N70,000 and N150,000, while more expensive schools charge between N200,000 and N500,000.

A bag of rice sells for between N60,000 and N90,000, depending on the brand. An average-sized yam costs between N1,500 and N2,000, while a large yam sells for between N2,500 and N4,000. A cup of melon costs about N1,000.

David Odion, a junior civil servant whose salary is slightly above N100,000, said he was indebted because his earnings could not meet his family’s needs.

“I have three children. With my salary, it is difficult for me to take care of them without borrowing. Food is on the high side, and my transport fare to my workplace in a month is over N20,000. If I remove it from my salary, I am left with nothing. So, I have to borrow in order not to go hungry,” he said.

In Kogi State, the government pays N72,000 as the minimum wage for civil servants, but workers note that the amount was grossly inadequate to meet prevailing living costs.

A survey in Lokoja, the state capital, showed that a measure of rice sells for about N1,800, beans for N2,000, a crate of eggs for N6,500, a measure of maize for N600 and guinea corn for N1,000.

School expenses also contribute to the pressure. Survey findings put fees in some private primary schools at between N10,000 and N15,000, excluding additional charges for special services.

A father, Adebayo Emmanuel, said some public schools described as free still required parents to pay between N5,000 and N10,000 to support special services.

Workers also complained about transportation costs. Yusuf Ahmed, a civil servant who lives in Ganaja Village, a suburb of Lokoja, said he spent at least N1,000 daily travelling to the state civil service secretariat five days a week.

“I have my residence at Ganaja Village, a suburb of Lokoja. I always pay not less than N1,000 as transport fare every day to my office in the civil service secretariat for five working days in a week. My salary isn’t up to N100,000 as a Level 10 officer in the civil service,” he said.

Mariam Adamu, a worker in a state agency, said several colleagues had taken loans to meet family obligations, including children’s school fees, medical bills and feeding.

Taraba, Sokoto, Borno workers lament too

In Taraba State, civil servants receive N70,000 as minimum wage, while local government workers receive N65,000, according to findings by Weekend Trust.

A one-bedroom flat in several areas of Jalingo, the state capital, costs between N250,000 and N350,000 annually.

Public primary education is free, with the state government providing pupils with uniforms, books and school bags. However, private primary school fees range from N25,000 to N120,000 per term.

A medium measure of locally processed rice sells for about N2,500, while a similar measure of white beans costs N2,500. A crate of eggs sells for about N7,000.

Dauda Abubakar, a civil servant with the Taraba State Government, said the N70,000 minimum wage was inadequate for a worker with a wife and two children because of the rising cost of living.

Bello Lawal, a primary school teacher in Jalingo, also said the wage was grossly inadequate under prevailing economic conditions.

Civil servants in Sokoto State said the N70,000 minimum wage was insufficient to cover their basic needs, with transportation and food taking up substantial portions of their salaries.

A two-bedroom flat in less-developed areas of Sokoto metropolis costs about N450,000 annually, while accommodation in better locations can cost N1 million or more.

A 50kg bag of rice sells for about N63,000, a measure of beans costs N3,300, spaghetti sells for N700 per piece, macaroni for N650 and a crate of eggs for N6,000.

A director in the state civil service, who asked not to be named, said his monthly salary of slightly more than N130,000 could not adequately cover transportation and the needs of his family, which includes three wives and six children.

He said he had turned to farming and livestock to supplement his earnings.

The director also claimed that some workers had reduced the number of days they reported to work because of transportation costs.

The director called for the minimum wage to be increased to N500,000.

Aliyu Zaki, a civil servant with the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, said he earned about N98,000 monthly and spent more than N20,000 on transportation.

Zaki, who has a wife and eight children, said his earnings were insufficient to provide food, healthcare, education and transport for his household.

“A bag of rice lasts us about 13 to 15 days. After that, we will just be managing until next salary comes,” he said.

In Borno State, workers said the initial optimism that followed Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s approval of the N70,000 minimum wage had quickly given way to anxiety as the cost of living continued to rise.

Interviews with civil servants in Maiduguri showed that many workers were struggling to stretch their salaries through the month, with accommodation, school fees and food accounting for substantial portions of their earnings.

The pressure is particularly evident in the housing market.

In areas such as Pompomari Bypass, Legacy Housing Estate and Damboa Road, the annual rent for a modest two-bedroom flat is about N700,000.

At that rate, a worker earning N70,000 monthly would have to commit the equivalent of 10 months of salary to annual rent, leaving the remaining two months’ earnings for food, transport, healthcare and other needs.

Education has also become a major burden for low- and middle-income households.

Parents who send their children to private schools in Maiduguri, including Namu Model, Abande and Ruby International Schools, face substantial fees.

Aisha Abubakar, a parent with three children at Namu Model School, said primary school fees averaged N40,000 per term, while secondary education could cost about N50,000 per child.

“School fees now average N40,000 per term for a primary school pupil, and scale up to N50,000 per child for secondary education,” she said.

She said the cost became particularly difficult for workers with several children.

Food prices have compounded the pressure. A bag of rice sells for about N56,000 in Maiduguri, while a crate of eggs costs N5,600 and a loaf of family bread sells for around N1,500.

Buhari Lawan, a civil servant, said the N70,000 salary was quickly depleted by food and other household expenses.

“When combined with the soaring costs of cooking gas, oil, and other daily condiments, the N70,000 salary is completely depleted within days of disbursement,” he said.

Experts call for living wages, social protection

Experts and civil society advocates have called for the adoption of living wages and stronger social protection measures to cushion the impact of rising living costs on Nigerian workers, saying recent minimum wage increases have failed to keep pace with the cost of food, housing, transportation, education and other essential needs.

They also urged governments to complement wage adjustments with measures such as subsidised food, affordable healthcare, housing support and improved public services to reduce the financial burden on civil servants and limit their dependence on loans and alternative sources of income.

The Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki Abdul, described the economic challenges confronting Nigerians as worrying, citing insecurity, corruption, poverty, economic deprivation, unemployment and inflation among the country’s problems.

He called for improvements in industrial development to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians, while urging citizens to remain vigilant and demand better governance.

Abdul also criticised political and governance practices which, in his view, had contributed to economic hardship and undermined national development.

Public affairs analyst Umar Ahmad Abubakar said the N70,000 minimum wage was no longer realistic under prevailing economic conditions.

He urged federal and state governments to consider reviewing workers’ wages and introducing support measures such as subsidised food, free healthcare and assistance with school expenses.

“The N70,000 is grossly inadequate even for a single person, talk less of a family man. The federal government should introduce incentives like subsidised food, free healthcare and school support for civil servants. Otherwise, crime rates will continue to rise, because people will do anything to survive,” he warned.

Kola Edokpayi, President of Talakawa Parliament, a civil society organisation, said the N75,000 minimum wage could not sustain a family of four for a month.

“The cost of food items in the market is beyond the reach of the civil servant. Currently, N75,000 minimum wage cannot take a family of four through a month,” he said.

Edokpayi said the cost of accommodation also made it difficult for workers to maintain decent living conditions, with two- and three-bedroom flats costing between N300,000 and N500,000 in some areas.

He urged federal and state governments to increase workers’ salaries to reflect prevailing economic conditions, arguing that the removal of the fuel subsidy had further worsened the pressure on households.

The NBS Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) provides another measure of the pressure on household budgets. The agency defines the indicator as the least expensive combination of locally available food items that meets globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines. It is intended to measure the physical and economic access of households to healthy diets.

The bureau’s April 2026 report put the national average cost at N1,589, up 3.12 per cent from N1,541 in March. The South-East recorded the highest zonal average at N1,830, followed by the South-West at N1,753, while the North-East recorded N1,415.

At state level, Ekiti recorded N2,036, Imo N2,018 and Bayelsa N1,909, while Adamawa recorded N1,143, the Federal Capital Territory N1,278 and Akwa Ibom N1,314.

The bureau’s analysis also showed that animal-source foods accounted for about 40 per cent of the total cost of a healthy diet despite contributing only 13 per cent of the calories in the diet basket. Fruits accounted for 16 per cent of the cost, vegetables 14 per cent, and legumes, nuts and seeds seven per cent.

The NBS said its calculations drew on retail food prices collected from 10,534 sources in urban and rural areas across all states, covering more than 300 food items. The CoHD represents a minimum cost benchmark and excludes transportation and meal preparation expenses.

While the healthy-diet measure provides a useful indication of food affordability, the experiences documented by Daily Trust show that workers must also meet housing, education, transport, electricity and healthcare costs from their earnings.

Contributions from: Willie Bassey (Port Harcourt), Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna), Tijani Labaran (Lokoja), Haruna Gimba Yaya (Damaturu), Dotun Omisakin (Lagos), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Sani Ibrahim Paki (Kano), Usman A. Bello (Benin), Magaji Isa Hunkuyi (Jalingo), Salim Ashir Mahuta (Sokoto) and Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Maiduguri)