A bill seeking to increase the
country’s minimum wage from N18,000 to N27,000 passed first and second reading
at the senate on Thursday.
This was sequel to a letter which
President Muhammadu Buhari sent to the lawmakers for their consideration.
The letter was read by Ike
Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, on the floor of the upper legislative
chamber.
“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.”
After the letter was read, Ahmed
Lawan, deputy senate president, moved that order 79 of the rules be suspended
so that the bill could be passed the first and second time.
But Biodun Olujimi, minority
leader, said the bill should not be “another election gimmick.”
“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,” Olujimi said.
On his part, Shehu Sani, senator
representing Kaduna central, urged his colleagues to “see to the realisation of
this bill.”
“Though this may not be enough,
productivity is sure to increase,” Sani said.
The bill passed second reading
after Ekweremadu put it to a voice vote.
The council of state had approved
N27,000 at its last meeting on Tuesday.
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