Minimum wage: You risk jail term, FG warns employers paying below N70,000

The Federal Government has warned private-sector employers paying below the new N70,000 minimum wage to desist from the act.

Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, gave the warning, on Wednesday, in Lagos, while speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria.

Abubakar, represented by John Nyamali, Director of Employment and Wages of the ministry, said minimum wage is now a law.

He 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.

Kano government, address the abandoned 44 LGA technical schools

Kano government, address the abandoned 44 LGA technical schools

“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.”