The Federal Government has mandated that agencies recruiting for the private sector adhere to the N70,000 minimum wage, warning that any deviations will not be tolerated.
Emphasizing the necessity of the new minimum wage to reflect current economic realities, the government stated that no Nigerian worker, whether in public or private employment, should earn less than this amount.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju made this statement during the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, according to The Punch.
Daju, represented by the Director of Employment and Wages of the ministry, John Nyamali, said, “The minimum wage is now a law, and as a result, it is a punishable crime for any employer to pay less than N70,000 to any of its workers.
“The private employment agencies should make it compulsory in any contract they take from their principal that their workers should not earn less than the minimum wage. The least paid worker in Nigeria should earn N70,000, and I think that should be after all deductions.
“The minimum wage is a law, and you can be jailed if you fail to implement it. The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the least paid worker goes home with N70,000.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo called on the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross.
He emphasized the need to address and explain any ambiguities in the Act to ensure proper understanding and implementation.
Speaking at the programme, the Chairperson of the NLC, Lagos State chapter, Funmilayo Sessi, said the prevailing hardship had made a mess of whatever income any worker was earning in Nigeria, calling on private employers to ensure the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage.
She said “The N70,000 isn’t enough in the current economic realities. By the time the consequential adjustment is concluded, all private employment agencies should immediately start paying their workers the N70,000 minimum wage.
“The NLC in Lagos State will see to the strict enforcement of the minimum wage. EAPEAN should avoid confrontation with the NLC on the minimum wage.”
