Minimum Wage: Akpabio Outlines Categories Of Workers Eligible For N70,000 Monthly

Minimum Wage: Akpabio Outlines Categories Of Workers Eligible For N70,000 Monthly

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has detailed which categories of Nigerian workers are entitled to the newly legislated minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month. This announcement came as the Nigerian Senate passed the new minimum wage bill, which was forwarded to the chamber by President Bola Tinubu on July 23, 2024.

According to Akpabio, the ₦70,000 minimum wage applies to all workers, including those in the informal sector. This means that employers across various fields—whether in small-scale businesses or domestic settings—must adhere to this new wage standard. This includes staff such as housemaids, drivers, and even apprentices.

Akpabio emphasized that no employer, regardless of industry or scale, can pay less than ₦70,000. He stated, “If you’re a tailor and you employ additional hands, you can’t pay them below ₦70,000. If you have a housemaid, you cannot pay them below ₦70,000. If you hire a driver or a gateman, you cannot pay them below ₦70,000.”

This new mandate aims to ensure fair compensation and reflects an agreement reached between President Tinubu and labor leaders after extensive discussions. The bill, which was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, revises the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.

The wage increase is part of broader economic measures following the removal of the fuel subsidy and other economic reforms introduced by the current administration.