The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has come under scrutiny for his statement regarding the new national minimum wage approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Senate and House of Representatives recently passed a bill raising the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 and shortening the review period from five to three years.
During the plenary, Akpabio claimed that no employer could pay any worker less than ₦70,000, including domestic workers. He stated, “If you are a tailor and you employ an additional hand, you cannot pay the person below ₦70,000. If you are a mother with a newborn child and you want to bring in a housemaid, you cannot pay that housemaid below ₦70,000. This applies to all, from drivers to gatemen.”
Akpabio congratulated the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), all Nigerians, and the national assembly for passing the legislation, which also reduced the negotiation period for minimum wage reviews due to rising food costs.
However, Akpabio’s remarks sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many questioning the feasibility of his claims.
Verifying Akpabio’s Claim
A review of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 by TheCable reveals that not every employer is obligated to pay the minimum wage. According to Section 3 (1) of the act, every employer must pay the national minimum wage to every worker under their establishment, and any agreement for payment below the minimum wage is void. However, there are exceptions.
Section 4 of the act stipulates that the minimum wage requirement does not apply to employers with fewer than 25 employees. Exempted establishments include:
- Part-time employees
- Commission or piece-rate employees
- Employers with fewer than 25 employees
- Seasonal workers, such as those in agriculture
- Employees on vessels or aircraft governed by merchant shipping or civil aviation laws
Verdict
Based on the National Minimum Wage Act 2019, Akpabio’s claim that every employer, including those hiring domestic workers, must pay ₦70,000 minimum wage is incorrect.
News Editor