The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is advocating for the incorporation of punitive measures into the Minimum Wage Act to address non-compliance by state governors and local government administrators.
This push for stricter enforcement comes amid ongoing challenges with the implementation of the current minimum wage across various states.
The National Treasurer of the NLC, Hakeem Ambali, highlighted the issue in an interview with Punch in Abuja, explaining that the lack of penalties in the existing 2019 Minimum Wage Act has allowed some state governors to evade their obligation to pay the stipulated minimum wage.
Ambali emphasized the necessity of such sanctions to ensure compliance and protect workers’ rights across Nigeria.
The move by the NLC coincides with the scheduled meeting of the 37-member committee established by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to discuss the new minimum wage.
This panel, inaugurated on January 30, 2024, by Vice-president Kashim Shettima, includes representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor.
