REALITY CHECK: N70,000 Minimum Wage Can Only Buy Food for 15 Days

For millions of Nigerian workers, earning the new national minimum wage may no longer guarantee something as basic as feeding adequately for an entire month. An analysis of the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Cost of a Healthy Diet report shows that the current N70,000 minimum wage can only provide healthy meals for about […]

For millions of Nigerian workers, earning the new national minimum wage may no longer guarantee something as basic as feeding adequately for an entire month.

An analysis of the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Cost of a Healthy Diet report shows that the current N70,000 minimum wage can only provide healthy meals for about 15 days for one adult eating three times daily, highlighting the widening gap between wages and the cost of living.

The NBS report placed the national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) at N1,541 per adult per day in March 2026, up from N1,513 in February 2026 and N1,477 in March 2025.

The Cost of a Healthy Diet is a globally recognised measure used by the United Nations and the World Bank to estimate the minimum amount required for an individual to access a nutritionally adequate diet.

Using the NBS figure, a Nigerian adult would require approximately N4,623 daily to afford three healthy meals, translating to about N138,690 monthly.

This means that the current N70,000 minimum wage covers only about 15 days of healthy feeding in a 30-day month, leaving workers unable to afford recommended diets for the remaining half of the month.

For workers who reduce feeding to twice daily, the wage stretches to roughly 22 days, while households with dependents face even steeper challenges.

The Numbers Behind The Crisis

The figures paint a grim picture of food affordability.

At N1,541 per adult per day, the monthly cost of maintaining a healthy diet for one person stands at N46,230.

For a household of three, for instance, a worker, a non-earning spouse and a child, the monthly cost rises to N138,690. This amount is almost double the current minimum wage. In practical terms, such a family would struggle to afford even one healthy meal per person daily throughout the month using only the minimum wage.

The implication is that many households are likely cutting meal portions, skipping meals entirely, or substituting nutritious foods with cheaper alternatives.

Food Costs Continue To Rise

The NBS report shows that the Cost of a Healthy Diet increased by 4.38 per cent year-on-year, rising from N1,477 in March 2025 to N1,541 in March 2026. Month-on-month, the cost increased by 1.89 per cent from February 2026. The bureau attributed the rise largely to increases across most food groups.

Animal-source foods remain the most expensive component of a healthy diet, accounting for 39 per cent of the total cost while providing only 13 per cent of total calories. Fruits and vegetables also consume a significant portion of household food budgets, accounting for 16 per cent and 14 per cent of the healthy diet cost respectively.

At the state level, Ekiti State recorded the highest healthy diet cost at N2,091 per adult per day, followed by Imo (N2,052) and Abia (N1,970). The lowest costs were recorded in Adamawa (N1,004), the Federal Capital Territory (N1,113) and Taraba (N1,149).

Regionally, the South-East recorded the highest average cost at N1,899 per day, while the North-East recorded the lowest at N1,233 per day.

Beyond Food: The Rising Cost Of Survival

Food costs are only one component of the financial burden facing Nigerian workers.

Transportation expenses have increased significantly following fuel subsidy removal, while rents, electricity tariffs and other household costs continue to rise. Latest NBS inflation figures show that food inflation stood at 16.06 per cent in April 2026, surpassing the headline inflation rate of 15.69 per cent for the first time in eight months.

The development suggests that food prices are once again rising faster than the general cost of living, placing additional pressure on household purchasing power.

Hunger Crisis Deepens

The affordability challenge comes amid growing concerns over food insecurity.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 35 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity in 2026, driven by conflict, climate shocks, displacement and disruptions to local food systems.

The agency identified the North-East as the epicentre of the crisis, with approximately 5.8 million people facing severe food insecurity, including about 15,000 people in Borno State expected to experience catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.

The United Nations had earlier warned that 82 million Nigerians — about 64 per cent of the population, could face hunger by 2030 if urgent measures are not taken to address threats to food production and agricultural productivity.

Children remain among the most vulnerable.

The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that 6.4 million children under five suffer acute malnutrition across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, making Nigeria’s nutrition crisis one of the most severe in the world.

Government Palliatives And Their Impact

Successive interventions have attempted to cushion the impact of rising food costs.

Analysis of Govspend records shows that the Federal Government spent N13.07 billion on food palliatives between June 2023 and December 2025, largely through the distribution of rice, spaghetti and other staples across constituencies nationwide.

Spending rose sharply from N157.34 million in 2023 to N8.31 billion in 2024, before declining to N4.60 billion in 2025.

The interventions coincided with economic reforms including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, both of which contributed to higher food prices.

Despite the spending, food affordability remains a major concern for households, raising questions about the long-term effectiveness of palliative programmes as a solution to rising living costs.

Labour Demands Wage Review

The growing disconnect between wages and living costs has renewed calls for wage adjustments.

Speaking during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja, Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, urged the Federal Government to provide workers with an additional percentage of their basic salaries to cushion the effects of inflation pending a fresh review of the national minimum wage.

He said Nigerian workers were facing a “renewed crisis of survival” and required urgent intervention to cope with the rising cost of living.

Nutrition Expert Warns Of Long-Term Consequences

A nutritionist and Lead Consultant at Hadassah Nutritional Health Consult, Esther Olorunfunmi Sayo, warned that the inability of households to afford healthy diets could worsen malnutrition, particularly among children.

“The rising cost of healthy food is forcing many households to make difficult choices. When families can no longer afford balanced meals, they often resort to cheaper foods that may fill the stomach but do not provide adequate nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.”

“Nigerians should take advantage of seasonal foods because they are usually more affordable and nutritious. Instead of focusing on expensive options such as imported fruits and certain meats, households can maximize locally available foods such as maize, vegetables and eggs, which remain good sources of essential nutrients.

“Eggs are still one of the most affordable sources of quality protein available to many households. People should also consider seafood and other locally available protein sources that can provide nutritional value at a lower cost than meat,” Sayo noted.

Sayo also urged government to strengthen security in farming communities, support farmers and improve workers’ welfare to make healthy diets more accessible.

“Government must do more to support farmers, improve workers’ welfare and address insecurity in farming communities. Many of Nigeria’s food-producing areas are affected by insecurity, and this contributes significantly to rising food prices and reduced access to nutritious foods,” she said.

She warned that prolonged poor nutrition could result in stunted growth and other developmental challenges among children.

“When children do not receive adequate nutrition over a long period, the effects can be severe. Malnutrition can lead to stunted growth, weakened immunity, poor cognitive development and other health complications that may affect them throughout their lives,” Sayo warned.

What Happens During The Remaining Days?

The figures reveal a difficult reality.

If a worker earning the national minimum wage spends income solely on healthy feeding, the money lasts only about half the month. Yet food is only one of many necessities competing for limited income.

Rent must be paid. Transport costs must be covered. Electricity bills arrive monthly. School fees, healthcare and communication expenses remain unavoidable. For millions of Nigerians, the question is no longer whether food is expensive.

The question is what happens during the remaining days of the month when the salary has run out, but the need to eat remains.