FG bows to pressure, flags of N30,000 minimum wage implementation immediately
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang Thursday announced the decision of the Federal Government to immediately begin the implementation of the N30, 000 new minimum wage from April 18, 2019. He revealed that the Minimum Wage Repel and Enactment Act, 2019 has replaced the existing one following the signing into of the bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Explaining more before State House Correspondents in Abuja, Senator Enag averred that the bill now makes it mandatory for employers of labour in both public and private organisations to pay N30,000 as minimum wage.
He said “You can see me smiling on behalf of Nigerian workers. President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Minimum Wage Repel and Enactment Act, 2019.
“This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000.
“This excludes persons who are employing less than 25 workers, persons who work in a ship which sails out of jurisdiction and other persons who are in other kinds of regulated employment which are accepted by the Act.
“It also gives workers the right if you are compelled by any circumstance to accept salary that is less than N30,000 to sue your employer to recover the balance.
It also authorises the minister of labour and any person nominated by the minister or any person designated by the minister of labour in any ministry, department or agency to, on your behalf, take action in your name against such employer to recover the balance of your wages.
While recalling that the new law ensures and mandates the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and the minister or labour to be the chief and principal enforcers of the provisions of this law, he added that “This law applies to all agencies, persons and bodies throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Continuing, the presidential aide noted that “Mr President will celebrate with workers and the Federal Government will celebrate. This is Mr. President showing workers the love he has for them and we will match with the Nigerian workers.”
He made it clear that with the new law, monthly allowances of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stand increased in line with the provisions of the Act.
