The Federal Government has urged private sector recruitment agencies to comply with the N70,000 minimum wage, warning that any deviation will not be tolerated.
The government stressed that the new minimum wage is necessary to reflect the current economic conditions, asserting that no Nigerian worker, whether in public or private employment, should earn less than this amount.
Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, made this statement on Wednesday during the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
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Abubakar, who was 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.”
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In his remarks, the President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria (EAPEAN), Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, urged the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is meant to be net or gross. He emphasized that all ambiguities in the Act should be clearly highlighted and explained.
Ogunlowo noted that EAPEAN is already committed to upholding the minimum wage, creating decent job opportunities for Nigerians, and ensuring the protection of human resources from exploitation.
“As an employers union in the private sector, we are committed to implementing the minimum wage. We are a law-abiding and guided association. Our principals and clients have also keyed into the minimum wage.
“However, the government must clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross. The government and NLC should address all ambiguities in the minimum wage,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the NLC Lagos State Council, Funmilayo Sessi, stated that the current economic hardship has significantly diminished the value of any income earned by workers in Nigeria.
She urged private employers to ensure the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage to help alleviate the financial struggles faced by employees.
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.”
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Make God punish fg