The Federal Government has announced that any employer, whether in the public or private sector, who fails to comply with the N70,000 minimum wage will face legal consequences.
Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the 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 Lagos State. He was represented by John Nyamali, the ministry’s Director of Employment and Wages.
Abubakar explained that the new minimum wage was established through discussions between the Federal Government and organized labor as a response to the current economic climate affecting the nation.
He underscored that all workers in Nigeria, regardless of whether they are employed by the government or in the private sector, must receive at least N70,000 each month.
“The minimum wage is now a legal requirement, making it a criminal offense for any employer to pay their workers less than N70,000,” he stated.
Furthermore, he urged private employment agencies to ensure that any contracts they enter into with their clients explicitly stipulate that their workers will not earn below the minimum wage.
