The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to private sector employers, stressing that paying below the new minimum wage of N70,000 could lead to imprisonment.
Speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Private Employment Agency Employers Association of Nigeria in Ikeja, Lagos, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, represented by John Nyamali, Director of Employment and Wages, said the minimum wage is now a law.
“The minimum wage is now a law and as a result, it is a punishable offence for any employer to pay less than N70,000 to any of his workers. Stressing the need for an updated wage to address the current economic conditions, the government stated that no Nigerian worker, whether in public or private employment, should earn less than this minimum.
“Private employment agencies should require their workers, in any contract they sign with their principal, not to earn less than the minimum wage. The lowest paid worker in Nigeria should earn 70,000 naira, and I think that should be after all deductions.
“Minimum wage is a law and you can be jailed if you fail to implement it. The federal government has pledged to ensure that the lowest paid worker goes home with N70,000,” he revealed.
Responding to the government directive, the President of the Private Employment Agency Employers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, called for clarity on whether the N70,000 minimum wage applies net or gross, urging the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to address any ambiguity in the law.
“We are already committed to minimum wage and providing decent jobs for Nigerians while avoiding exploitation of human resources,” Ogunlowo said.
On her part, the Chairman of the NLC, Lagos State Chapter, Funmilayo Sessi, stressed the impact of economic challenges on workers’ incomes and urged private employers to quickly implement the N70,000 minimum wage.
“N70,000 is not enough in the current economic reality. Once the adjustment is made, all private employment agencies must start paying their workers the minimum wage of N70,000,” Sessi insisted. “The Lagos State NLC will ensure strict implementation and EAPEAN must avoid any conflict with the NLC over the minimum wage.”
