Lawmakers assure Minimum Wage bill won’t pass as NLC declares 9 governors ‘anti-workers’

*On behalf of Nigerian workers and pensioners, we make it clear and unambiguous that the bill that seeks to remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List is not accepted ─Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of Nigeria Labour Congress

*Federal lawmakers have assured the protesting workers that the National Assembly will stand by them to ensure the fundamental right of every worker is not only enforced, but ensured and guaranteed in the country

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Though deliberations on the controversial bill already have crossed the second reading in the Nigerian House of Representatives of the National Assembly (NASS), the Federal legislators have said the bill seeking to re-classify the National Minimum Wage will not see the light of day.

The lawmakers gave the promise to the Organised Labour leaders Wednesday, March 10, during a nationwide protest at the NASS Complex in Abuja, FCT.

Nigerian workers during a protest nationwide protest 

ConsumerConnect reports the proposed bill is designed to take wage negotiation from under the sole purview of the Federal Government by allowing states freedom to negotiate wage with their workers “in line with our Federalism”.

It was learnt Sen. (Dr.) Chris Ngige, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment, has dissociated the Federal Government of Nigeria from the bill sponsored by Garba Muhammed (Kaduna State).

Senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), on behalf of Senate President Ahmad Lawan, along with Hon. Ado Doguwa, House of Representatives Leader, who represented Speaker Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, received and addressed the Labour team, led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The duo told the protesters that “the bill will be killed the way a similar one was killed during the eighth National Assembly.”

Labour organised the protests at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja and House of Assembly complexes in the 36 states to press home its demand, that the plan to re-classify the Minimum Wage negotiation from the Executive List to the Concurrent List, be jettisoned.

Abdullahi said: “As somebody has said earlier, we are progressive lawmakers and I want to tell you there are quite a large number of them in the National Assembly.

“Remember in the Eighth Assembly, I was spokesman of the Senate and I recall vividly that this issue of minimum wage was brought and we killed it.

“Has the condition that led to the Eighth Assembly decision changed? I want to say very clearly that in the past, we have stood toe-to-toe with Nigerian workers.

The Federal legislator stated: “There is nothing that suggests we are changing from that direction. Rather, we will stand by you to ensure that the fundamental right of every worker is not only enforced, but ensured and guaranteed.

“I want to guarantee you that on behalf of distinguished Senator  Lawan, who is also a very progressive lawmaker, do not go home having any fear.

“Action speaks louder that voice. Wait to see the action. I want to assure you that our colleagues will receive this message in full measure without any subtraction or addition.”

Meanwhile, Wabba has disclosed that nine governors are “anti-workers” because they are not paying the N30,000 Minimum Wage.

The NLC President said: “We are here today (Wednesday) on behalf of Nigerian workers, on behalf of Nigerian pensioners, to make it clear and unambiguous that the bill that seeks to remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List is not accepted.

“The issue of National Minimum Wage is a standard set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the first agency of the United Nations (UN) born in 1919 after the First World War. So, we have the powers of the UN.

He further noted: “What I am reiterating is that: the National Minimum Wage is not a Nigerian standard. It is an international standard.

“Their argument is that because they want federalism, they want the issue of the National Minimum Wage to be removed to the Concurrent List. That is false.

“Let me also say that the argument that it is about federalism is false. Also, the argument about the ability to pay is false.”