Senate Commits To Expediting Passage Of New Minimum Wage Bill

This decision follows the suspension of the nationwide strike by the Organised Labour for five days to facilitate uninterrupted meetings with the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesday’s plenary session in Abuja, praised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for suspending their indefinite strike.

Earlier, Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central and chairing the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment, sponsored a motion urging the NLC and TUC to suspend the strike. However, during the debate, the chamber learned that the strike had already been suspended for one week to allow for further negotiations with the Federal Government, leading the Senate to step down the motion.

Akpabio remarked, “Proceeding with the motion would be premature as we would be intervening in ongoing negotiations. Various factors such as the capacity to pay, and the ability of states, local governments, and the private sector to meet the new wage requirements need consideration. Additionally, the potential for worker retrenchment if the minimum wage is set too high must be evaluated. We need a holistic approach to ensure an amicable resolution.”

He thanked the NLC and TUC for heeding the voices of Nigerians and the international community by calling off the strike to enable continued negotiations. Akpabio assured that the National Assembly would persist in contributing to the negotiations and await the new Minimum Wage Bill for enactment.

“On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he stated.