The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to private-sector employers, stating that companies paying employees less than the new minimum wage of N70,000 could face imprisonment.

This announcement was made during the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday, September 18. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, represented by Director of Employment and Wages, John Nyamali, emphasized that the new wage is legally binding.

Nyamali stressed, “The minimum wage is now a law, and any employer paying less than N70,000 to workers will face punishment.” He further urged private employment agencies to ensure their contracts reflect the updated wage, which aims to address the nation’s economic challenges.

The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no worker, whether in public or private employment, earns below the legal minimum, warning that failure to comply could result in imprisonment.