The Federal Government has aadvised all agencies conducting recruitments for different agencies in the country to ensure that there is compliance with the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage, stating that any agency that fails to pay will be punished.
The FG stated that the implimane taion f the minimum was was important inorder to address the current economic reality of the country which has affected the workers. The FG noted that all worker even in the private or government establishments should be paid the minimum wage.
The clarifications were given by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, on Wednesday while speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, which was held in Lagos state Nigeria.
He spoke on behalf of the Director of Employment and Wages of the ministry, John Nyamali, and noted that the minimum wage in the country had been signed and, therefore, has become a low that guided the payment of salaries, noting that any employer which fails to pay the said amount would be punished as a crime in the country. He noted no worker should be paid less N70,000 in the country.
He explained that private employment agencies should make it an obligation for all companies contracting them on employment to make it compulsory for workers to be paid the stipulated amount which has been signed by the president of the country. He emphasised that in every company every organization in the country the least paid worker should be N70,000, after all deductions were made.
He reiterated that as a law, any company that fails to honour the law could be jailed by the government. According to him, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the least-paid worker goes home with N70,000.
While responding the President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, Dr Olufemi Ogunlowo told the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to make it public if the said amount is net or gross salaries for the workers. He noted that all the confusion that are in the minimum wage law should be explained for easier understanding of everyone.
He disclosed that EAPEAN is already committed to the minimum wage, through the provision of good jobs for the Nigerain people which have spoken about any form of exploitation of human resources.
The Chairperson of the NLC, Lagos State Council, Funmilayo Sessi, said noted that the hardship which has taken over the country has made it irrelevant to the the amount salaries that are being paid by workers in the country. The chairperson advised the private sector to ensure the payment of the minimum wage, which would help the workers have a better life.
She noted that the N70,000 payment was too small for what individuals are currently passing through.
She noted that the NLC in Lagos will ensure that all the companies in the state pay the workers the due amount. She also charged them to avoid problems by ensuring the payments.
