Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 now applies to all workers in both the public and private sectors, including domestic staff such as maids. This announcement was made during a plenary session on Tuesday, following the rapid passage of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly after it was submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio emphasized that this minimum wage standard applies universally. “If you are a tailor employing additional staff, you cannot pay them less than N70,000. Similarly, if you hire a housemaid, driver, or gateman, their pay cannot be below the approved minimum wage,” he stated. He expressed his satisfaction with the bill’s passage and encouraged employers to see this as a benchmark to build upon.
He congratulated the Nigeria Labour Congress, all Nigerians, and the National Assembly on this significant legislation, which also reduces the wage negotiation period from five years to three years in light of rising living costs. The session was then adjourned to 17 September.
It was reported that the Senate passed the 2024 National Minimum Wage Amendment Act Bill after it was transmitted by President Tinubu, who sought swift legislative support. This new bill replaces the National Minimum Wage Act of 2019, which had set a N30,000 minimum wage with a five-year review period. Now, the review period is shortened to three years.
During the debate, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele noted that the N70,000 wage was the result of thorough negotiations among all parties. He remarked, “This is part of the Federal Government’s short-term strategy to address the economic situation in the country.”
