Three Categories Of People That Cannot Benefit From New Minimum Wage

By Biola Adebayo

There are three categories of people that are excluded from benefitting from the newly signed Minimum Wage Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed the bill into law.

Those excluded are: Persons who are employing less than 25 workers; persons who work in a ship which sail out of the jurisdiction; persons who are in other kinds of regulated employment are exempted by the Act.

Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), made this known while briefing State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The National Assembly had on March 19, approved N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage, with an appeal to the Federal Government to expedite action on its assent and implementation.

“This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay their workers the sum of N30, 000.

“This excludes persons who are employing less than 25 workers; persons who work in a ship which sail out of the jurisdiction; persons who are in other kinds of regulated employment are exempted by the Act.

“It also gives the workers the right if you are compelled by any circumstance to accepting a salary that is less than 30,000, for you to sue your employers to recover the balance,’’ Enang said.

He added that the Act also ensured and mandated the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Minister of Labour to be the chief and principal enforcers of the provisions of the Act.

He explained that the law applied to all agencies and persons and bodies throughout the country.

“The effective date is April 18, 2019 as the President has assented to; it has been assented to and it takes effect today except for such other provision as are contained in the Act.”

Enang said that the enforcement and the right to start the implementation of the provisions of the Act, including such steps that would be taken gradually under the law, commenced immediately.

He urged Nigerian workers to celebrate President Buhari and support his administration and policies.

The presidential aide said that the administration would come out and march with Nigerian workers on Workers’ Day celebration.

“Mr. President will celebrate Workers’ Day and this government will celebrate. This is the President’s action showing the love he has for Nigerian workers,’’ he said.

NAN