In his address, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, noted that the “consideration and passage of the bill is exigent because the country is at a brink of a national industrial crisis”.
SAHARANEWS – The National Assembly has begun hearing on the minimum wage bill. Present at the hearing are leaders and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Also present are Chris Ngige, Minuster of Labour and Employment; Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, among others.
In his address, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, noted that the “consideration and passage of the bill is exigent because the country is at a brink of a national industrial crisis”.
Stating that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had rejected the N27,000 proposed as the national minimum wage, Dogara restated the commitment of the National Assembly to the interest of the workers.
He noted the economic downturn and dwindling revenue, but stated that N30,000 is not sufficient to sustain the average worker. He added that the House was approaching the issue with a high sense of duty.
While highlighting the causes of corruption to include poor renumeration, he said: “The answer is for us to pay living wage and not minimum wage.”