House divided as bill to decentralise minimum wage reaches second reading
The House of Representatives is seeking to decentralise the payment of minimum wage to workers in the country. This would mean each tier of government would pay its employees according to its financial capacity.
At a plenary session of the House held on Tuesday, Rep. Garba Datti from Kaduna state sponsored a bill seeking to transfer the minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
The long title of the bill is “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to amongst others, Transfer the Subject Matter of Minimum Wage Prescription from the Exclusive Legislative List set out under Part I of the Second Schedule to the Concurrent Legislative List set out under Part II of the Second Schedule; and for Related Matters.”
The argument presented by Mr. Datti is that wage payment should be decentralised to allow each state to pay according to its financial capacity, noting that states like Rivers State and Zamfara state could not pay the same amount for minimum wage as their resource capacities differ.
Arguing against the move was the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education, Rep. Aminu Suleiman, who posited that misplaced priorities was the reason some state governments were unable to pay the minimum wage.
The house was divided over the bill as arguments ensued, however, the bill has been passed for its second reading.
In April 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new minimum wage bill into law, thus increasing the minimum wage by 62.2 percent, from N18,500 to N30,000.
However, most states have yet to implement the new wage as they cannot afford it. Last week, The Nigeria Labour Congress directed workers in 18 states where the national minimum wage of N30,000 had yet to be paid to proceed on strike.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Abuja
AMMC promises to reposition FCT’s emergency, disaster management
Felix Obuah made the promise during a familiarisation visit to the department in Abuja on Thursday.
Economy
CBN ready to let foreign companies repatriate their profits: Tinubu
The reforms also include the Central Bank of Nigeria’s readiness to provide the necessary window for foreign companies to repatriate their profits.
Africa
Kenya’s widespread, entrenched corruption blocking foreign investments: U.S. Govt
The U.S. government insisted that pervasive and entrenched corruption is the main obstacle discouraging foreign investments in Kenya.
Rights
NCS begins sensitisation to automated retiree verification system
Its spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that the programme, the first of its kind, was inaugurated on April 22.
Faith
Tinubu mourns Senator Ayogu Eze
Mr Tinubu prayed to God to grant the soul of the departed repose and comfort to those in mourning.
Health
PCN closes 751 medicine stores in Gombe
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria enforcement team has shut down 751 medicine stores in Gombe.