The Federal Government has reiterated its directive to agencies involved in recruiting for the private sector, mandating strict adherence to the N70,000 minimum wage. Any deviation from this standard will not be tolerated, according to government officials.
The announcement came during an event in Lagos, where Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, emphasized the necessity of the new minimum wage to align with the current economic realities facing Nigerians.
Abubakar was represented by John Nyamali, the Director of Employment and Wages at the ministry.
“The minimum wage is now a law,” Nyamali stated, underscoring that it is a punishable offense for any employer to pay less than N70,000 to their workers.
He urged private employment agencies to incorporate this requirement into any contracts with their clients, ensuring that all workers receive at least the stipulated minimum wage.
“The least paid worker in Nigeria should earn N70,000, and this amount should be net of all deductions,” he added.
Nyamali highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing this law, stating, “You can be jailed if you fail to implement it.”
The government’s stance aims to uplift the living standards of workers across Nigeria, reinforcing the notion that no employee, whether in the public or private sector, should earn less than the minimum wage.
This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to address economic challenges and improve worker welfare in the country.