The Federal Government of Nigeria has made it clear that private employers who pay their workers less than the new minimum wage of N70,000 risk facing jail time.
This warning was announced by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria.
According to Abubakar, the minimum wage is now a law, and paying less than N70,000 is a punishable crime. Employers are expected to make it compulsory in any contract that their workers earn at least the minimum wage, after all deductions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also weighed in on the issue, with the Chairperson of the Lagos State Council, Funmilayo Sessi, calling on private employers to pay the N70,000 minimum wage. She noted that the current economic realities make it difficult for workers to survive on lower wages.
It’s worth noting that there is some ambiguity surrounding whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross, with the President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, calling for clarification on this issue.
