Breaking: New minimum wage bill passes 2nd reading in Senate
The minimum wage bill seeking to increase the minimum wage of Nigerian workers from 18,000 to 27,000, as against the N30,000 being demanded by the organised labour union, has passed second reading in the Senate.
The bill was transmitted to the National Assembly on Wednesday, January 23, by President Muhammadu Buhari
The letter was read by deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, on the floor of the Senate, The Cable reports.
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“The purpose of the letter is to forward to the lawmakers, for legislative action, a new minimum wage bill to further amend the national minimum wage amendment act 2011 in order to give a new national minimum wage of N27,000 per month to the lowest paid Nigerian worker from the current N18,000 per month,” the letter read.
“This new bill and the amendments contained therein, were arrived at after consultations by the tripartite committee on national minimum wage which was constituted by me in November 2017 to consider, make recommendations and advice the government on this issue.
“The tripartite committee comprise representatives of the federal government, governors’ forum, organised private sector and organised federations of trade unions in Nigeria. The federal executive council (FEC), National Executive Council, National Council of state have all noted and approved this recommended amendment.”
Senator Ahmed Lawan, majority leader, after the letter was read, moved that order 79 of the rules be suspended so that the bill could be passed the first and second time.
However, Senator Biodun Olujimi, minority leader, said the bill should not be “another election gimmick.”
She said: “We will work hard, but it is important that this does not become another election gimmick. Let the people who should get paid, actually get paid."
In his contribution, Senator Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, urged his colleagues to “see to the realisation of this bill.”
He said: “Though this may not be enough, productivity is sure to increase.”
Legit.ng gathered that the bill passed second reading after Ekweremadu put it to a voice vote.
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Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress rejected the N27,000 new national minimum wage adopted by the National Council of States (NCS) on Tuesday, January 22.
Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC general secretary, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to him, the council has no jurisdiction determining another amount after a Tripartite Committee has submitted its report.
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Source: Legit.ng
