Reps seek penalty for employers who delay salary payments

The House of Representatives is working on a bill for an Act that will prohibit employers from withholding their employees’ salaries or paying such salaries late.

The bill, entitled, ‘A bill for an Act to prohibit late payment, non-payment and underpayment of workers’ wages, pension and emolument in Nigeria and prescribed penalties for violations and for other matters connected thereto’, is sponsored by the minority leader of the House, Femi Gbajabamila, passed its second reading on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

During the presentation of the bill, Gbajabamila observed that there are consequences for late payment, non-payment and underpayment of workers’ wages, pension and emolument, especially in Nigeria.

“It is humanly and practically impossible for us to say that we are fighting corruption, whereas we are laying the foundations for corruption,” he said, adding that it would be very difficult for millions of Nigerians, who are not well paid not to be corrupt.

 

TEDDY NWANUNOBI, Abuja