House of Representatives has proposed a bill that would make it unlawful for corporations and businesses in the country to withhold or postpone paying their workers’ salary.
The House representative for the Agege federal constituency in Lagos State, Wale Hammed, is the sponsor of the Employees Remuneration Protection Bill, 2023.
Section 7 (1) of the Bill, which has passed its first reading, states that it is illegal for any employer to “refuse or neglect to pay the remuneration of his employees, as provided under this Act.”
One of the bill’s provisions is Section 8 (1), which states that an employee may assert their claim by submitting a written demand to their employer for the payment of their entitlement if their compensation is not paid after the time frame allowed by this legislation.
However, it states that “the employee may petition the court for redress by filing a motion on notice if the employee fails to remit payment within five business days following service of a demand under Section 9 of this bill.”
Therefore, in the event that an employer is found guilty of failing to pay their workers’ salary, it imposes a jail sentence of three to six months, without the option of a fine.
The bill is similar to a bill sponsored Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s current chief of staff. His bill attempted to outlaw underpayment, nonpayment, and late payment of employees’ wages in Nigeria and set fines for infractions as well as other related issues.
