Nigeria's biggest unions are on strike calling for a big rise in the minimum wage, from around $50 (NGN18k) to $140-180 a month (NGN50-65k). This could make Nigerians more expensive to employ than the Vietnamese ($145) or Russians ($163) based on rough figures we compiled below 
There is a case to be made for a higher minimum wage. The NLC points out the currency has halved in value, and petrol prices are up 80% since the last wage change. Ivory Coast and Kenya have min wages around roughly $100.
However, when wages are too high and un-competitive, currency devaluation often becomes the market led response to address the problem. Turkey hiked the minimum wage by 60% over 2015-18 - the currency has halved in value since 2015. Argentina too hiked wages too much
Nigeria's wages must be lower than Vietnam's to remain competitive, because Vietnam has better adult literacy (95% vs 60% in Nigeria, 2015 data), 10 times more electricity per person and higher investment/GDP.
This is leaving aside the issue of whether Abuja can afford to dramatically high wages. Six months before an election, it is remarkable how often a government discovers it can grant a pay rise (often it's the next government which has to deal with the fall-out)
