By Daniel Tyokua
The national president, Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Chris Adigwu said N40,000 is being proposed as the minimum wage for private guards in the country.
He said anyone offering guard services should start thinking of paying a guard nothing less than N40.
In an interview with some Journalists in Abuja, Adigwu explained that
his administration would ensure that the proposed minimum wage is implemented in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated that a new minimum wage has become necessary because of the increasing cost of living in the country, adding that when guards are well paid, they do their work well.
“The salary paid by some of our members to their staff has been a burning issue for us. This is because there should be a minimum salary payment for staff of private guard companies in Nigeria.
“We know that if our guards are well paid, they will also do their work well and that is why we are proposing a minimum wage of nothing less than N40, 000 for anyone offerings guard services in the country”
He revealed that the association has about 1,650 registered private security companies, which have engaged over four million Nigerians, making the association one of the biggest employers of labour and the biggest employers of youths in the country.
The president, said it’s members are present in the 774 local governments and virtually in every home in this country, adding that they are the best when it comes to intelligence gathering, which he said could be used to support the state actors.
He disclosed that the association has the challenge of compliances and multiple taxation, especially from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), just as he called for a review of the tax method for private security guard companies in the country to enable them stay in business.
‘We also have the challenge of foreign contractors and other people, such as the vigilantes encroaching into our business.
Our members are well profiled before they are licensed and we pay for our renewal fees and are regulated by the government. So, the government should empower us to do our work, rather than allowing other groups to encroach into our business,” he added.
