Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced that the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 will apply uniformly across both the public and private sectors, extending to domestic staff such as maids and drivers.
This announcement was made during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday.
The new minimum wage bill was rapidly endorsed by both chambers of the National Assembly following its submission by President Bola Tinubu. The swift passage reflects the urgency with which lawmakers have addressed the growing cost of living in the country.
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Addressing the Senate, Akpabio emphasized the inclusivity of the new wage regulations. “If you are a tailor and you employ additional hands, you cannot pay them below N70,000. If you are a mother with a newborn child and you want to hire a housemaid to look after your child, you cannot pay the person below the approved minimum wage. It is not a maximum wage. It applies to all and sundry,” Akpabio stated. He further explained, “If you hire a driver or gateman, you cannot pay them below N70,000.”
Akpabio expressed his satisfaction with the legislation and his anticipation for improved labor standards, saying, “I’m very delighted that this has been passed, and we now look forward to employers of labor improving on what has been set as a benchmark for all to follow.”
He also congratulated the Nigeria Labour Congress, all Nigerians, and the National Assembly for their role in this landmark legislation. “This epoch-making legislation has even reduced the term of negotiations from five years to three years in view of the increasing cost of living. This is, again, landmark legislation, so congratulations,” Akpabio remarked.
The Senate’s passage of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Amendment Act Bill signifies a substantial shift from the previous National Minimum Wage Act, No. 8, 2019, which set the minimum wage at N30,000 and stipulated a five-year review period. The new bill not only increases the minimum wage but also shortens the review period to three years.
During the debate on the bill, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele noted that the agreed-upon minimum wage of N70,000 resulted from thorough negotiations among all parties. “This is part of the Federal Government’s short-term measure to mitigate the situation in the country,” Bamidele commented.
The Senate session was subsequently adjourned to September 17, 2024, to allow time for the implementation of the new wage structure and further legislative activities.
