After the first reading of the National Minimum Wage amendment bill yesterday, the House of Representatives pledged a rapid delivery of the new law that will enforce the N10,500 pay rise announced by the government last year.
With two more readings, that will include committee considerations and plenary approvals, the proposal sent in by President Goodluck Jonathan after tense negotiation with the Labour, will soon be law, allowing civil servants to be paid N18,000 minimum.
The Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, said the processes, normally stretching through 24 weeks at the least, will be finalised “soon enough” to allow for presidential assent before current legislative session ends in May. “We have done it before and we will do it again,” Mr. Nafada revealed this at a meeting he had with the leaders of Labour Congress and other affiliate groups , shortly after the bill’s first reading on Tuesday. “It will be passed before the end of their tenure, not on the day of their leaving, but about one or two months away to allow the president enough time sign it,” he said. The Labour officials said they came to appreciate the legislators for giving attention to the bill and to lobby for more commitment.
The new wage benchmark has formed a significant rallying point for Mr. Jonathan’s administration as the president presses for wide political support from public and private sector workers alike, ahead of April general elections. A prolonged negotiation that forced the amount down from the N52,000, NLC insisted on before.
Addressing the lawmakers yesterday, NLC, led by its president, Omar Abdulwaheed, said workers are a “patient” bulk, and are thankful to the lawmakers for their expeditious attention to the bill. “We want to thank the House very much for the commitment it has shown so far to get this bill passed,” he said. He however tasked the members to accelerate the passage of the bill, well awaited by workers.
With two more readings, that will include committee considerations and plenary approvals, the proposal sent in by President Goodluck Jonathan after tense negotiation with the Labour, will soon be law, allowing civil servants to be paid N18,000 minimum.
The Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, said the processes, normally stretching through 24 weeks at the least, will be finalised “soon enough” to allow for presidential assent before current legislative session ends in May. “We have done it before and we will do it again,” Mr. Nafada revealed this at a meeting he had with the leaders of Labour Congress and other affiliate groups , shortly after the bill’s first reading on Tuesday. “It will be passed before the end of their tenure, not on the day of their leaving, but about one or two months away to allow the president enough time sign it,” he said. The Labour officials said they came to appreciate the legislators for giving attention to the bill and to lobby for more commitment.
The new wage benchmark has formed a significant rallying point for Mr. Jonathan’s administration as the president presses for wide political support from public and private sector workers alike, ahead of April general elections. A prolonged negotiation that forced the amount down from the N52,000, NLC insisted on before.
Addressing the lawmakers yesterday, NLC, led by its president, Omar Abdulwaheed, said workers are a “patient” bulk, and are thankful to the lawmakers for their expeditious attention to the bill. “We want to thank the House very much for the commitment it has shown so far to get this bill passed,” he said. He however tasked the members to accelerate the passage of the bill, well awaited by workers.
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