By Lukman Olabiyi and Marvelous Udoruisi
The Employers Association for Private Employment Agents of Nigeria (EAPEAN) has vowed to clamp down on private companies that fail to comply with the national minimum wage and violate decent work standards.
Speaking at the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the union held in Lagos, the newly elected President of EAPEAN, Mr Nzegbe Okegbue, pledged to partner with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to uphold workers’ rights, especially in enforcing the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Okegbue emphasised that his administration is committed to strengthening EAPEAN’s internal structures and deepening its collaboration with regulatory and international labour bodies.
“My plan is to reinforce our existing structure and relationship with the Federal Ministry of Labour, and other social partners like the ILO, IOM, NSC, and relevant government agencies. We will also encourage our members to go the extra mile in compliance and capacity building through regular training,” he stated.
Expressing concern over reports of some companies still paying workers as low as ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 monthly, the EAPEAN president said the union would no longer remain silent on the issue.
“For me, decent work starts with decent pay. You cannot talk about decent work when workers earn far below the ₦70,000 minimum wage. That is unacceptable. Decent work also means ensuring worker safety and a healthy work environment,” Okegbue declared.
In his remarks, the immediate past president of EAPEAN, Mr Olufemi Ogunlowo, highlighted the growing challenges facing Nigeria’s private employment sector.
He cited rising labour costs, inflation, restrictive government policies, and a weak infrastructure base as some of the major hurdles employers face.
“The new minimum wage has driven up costs while inflation continues to erode profit margins. Despite these challenges, we remain focused on promoting ethical recruitment, digitalising employment processes, and ensuring compliance with labour laws. Protecting job seekers and migrant workers remains a top priority,” Ogunlowo said.
Both leaders reiterated EAPEAN’s commitment to advocating for ethical standards in Nigeria’s labour market and working closely with stakeholders to ensure fair and decent employment practices across the private sector.
