The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to private-sector employers, cautioning that failure to comply with the newly established ₦70,000 minimum wage could result in imprisonment.
Kachollom Daju, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, delivered this message during an event in Ikeja, Lagos. She emphasized that the minimum wage is now legally binding.
“The minimum wage is now a law, and as a result, it is a punishable crime for any employer to pay less than ₦70,000 to any of its workers,” she stated.
The Federal Government underscored the importance of the wage adjustment in addressing the nation’s current economic realities. Daju reiterated that all Nigerian workers, whether in public or private sectors, are entitled to the new wage.
“Private employment agencies should ensure that any contract they take from their principal mandates that workers earn no less than the minimum wage. The least paid worker in Nigeria should earn ₦70,000, and that should be after all deductions,” she explained.
Daju further emphasized the consequences of non-compliance. “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 ₦70,000,” she warned.
The government’s move aims to enhance the welfare of workers across Nigeria by enforcing the new minimum wage standard.
