Akpabio Urges Workers To Embrace ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

Akpabio Urges Workers To Embrace ₦70,000 Minimum WageSenate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the new national minimum wage is ₦70,000 and applies universally across the nation, ensuring no Nigerian worker is paid below this threshold. Akpabio made this statement during the signing of the Minimum Wage Act (Amendment) Bill into law by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

He highlighted that this increase, from the previous ₦30,000, reflects the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare. “We are not only doubling the minimum wage, but we have also added something on top. Initially, it was ₦30,000; now it is ₦70,000,” Akpabio stated.

Akpabio emphasized that this is a minimum standard and employers who can afford to pay more are encouraged to do so. “No Nigerian worker will offer services and be paid anything less than ₦70,000 from today,” he affirmed, noting that this act applies nationwide and showcases President Tinubu’s care for Nigerian workers.

In related news, Akpabio has cautioned Nigerians, particularly the youth, against participating in the planned nationwide protest. He warned that individuals who lost in the 2023 elections might be using these protests to incite violence and destabilize the country.

While acknowledging that peaceful protests are a fundamental right, Akpabio warned that the planned protests could escalate into violence, resulting in property destruction and national instability. He stressed that the challenges facing Nigeria stem from past government neglect, not the current administration.

Akpabio urged the youth to focus on self-development and community improvement rather than engaging in potentially destructive activities. He assured that the Tinubu administration is diligently working to address the nation’s issues and asked for more time for their efforts to yield positive results.