The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to private companies to comply with the N70,000 minimum wage law, emphasizing that non-compliance could result in imprisonment. The directive was communicated by Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, during the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday.
Abubakar, who was represented by John Nyamali, Director of Employment and Wages at the Ministry, stressed that the N70,000 minimum wage is a legal requirement, and failure to adhere to it could lead to legal consequences. “The minimum wage is a law, and you can be jailed if you fail to implement it,” Abubakar stated. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that every worker receives at least N70,000 in wages.
Nyamali further elaborated that the minimum wage law mandates that private employment agencies must include a stipulation in their contracts ensuring that workers are paid no less than the minimum wage. “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,” he said.
He added that this wage should be applicable after all deductions, reinforcing the government’s stance on fair compensation for workers. The enforcement of this law aims to address wage disparities and ensure that the least paid worker in Nigeria earns a fair and legal wage.
