No Nigerian worker should be offered less than N70,000, Akpabio reacts to signing of new minimum wage

Kunle Sanni

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said no Nigerian worker will provide services for less than N70,000.

He described his reaction to the recent signing of the new minimum wage bill into law as ecstatic.

WESTERN POST Online Monday reported that President Bola Tinubu signed the new N70,000 minimum wage bill into law after the conclusion of the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The signing comes weeks after the organised labour unions and the Federal Government reached an agreement last on a N70,000 minimum wage for workers.

Speaking to State House reporters after the signing of the new bill, Akpabio said the development is for the whole nation and individual employers.

In compliance with the Act, Akpabio said no Nigerian worker will offer services and be paid anything less than N70,000 from any employer.

“So I think this is a great day for the workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage, we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000, now it is N70,000.

“Like I said, this is minimum, this is not maximum. Any employer that has a capacity can pay as much as you want. But no Nigerian worker will offer services and be paid anything less than N70,000 from today. That is the implication of this Act. It applies all over the nation.

He added, “When it came, the entirety of the National Assembly moved and passed the bill in one day out of excitement. We felt that this was not something we could delay. So I think the workers are happy.”