The Federal Government has demanded that recruitment organisations working for the private sector to comply with the N70,000 minimum wage, warning that any deviation would not be tolerated.
FG asserts that the new minimum wage is required to reflect the present economic realities and that no Nigerian worker, whether government or private employer, should be paid less than the minimum wage.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, revealed this on Wednesday while addressing at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
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.”
Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, stated in his remarks that all ambiguities in the Act should be highlighted and explained. He asked the government and Nigeria Labour Congress to clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross.
Ogunlowo claims that the EAPEAN is already dedicated to upholding the minimum wage, giving Nigerians decent employment, and preventing the exploitation of human resources.
“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, Funmilayo Sessi, the Chairperson of the NLC, Lagos State Council, stated that the current economic conditions had destroyed whatever income that Nigerian workers had. She urged private employers to make sure that the N70,000 minimum wage is paid.
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.”
