ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
House of representatives during plenary. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Twitter handle of House of Reps.]

House of representatives during plenary. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Twitter handle of House of Reps.]

Nigerian lawmakers to empower states to determine minimum wage

The House on Tuesday debated the bill and passed it for second reading amidst opposition.

byPremium Times
February 23, 2021
3 min read

A bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to allow states to determine minimum wage has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

The House on Tuesday debated the bill and passed it for second reading amidst opposition.

The sponsor of the bill, Datti Garba, from Kaduna State, said the bill is part of the devolution of powers, which allows states to determine minimum wage based on capacity.

Item 34 on the exclusive legislative list places “labour, including trade unions, industrial relations; conditions, safety and welfare of labour; industrial disputes; prescribing a national minimum wage for the Federation or any part thereof; and industrial arbitration” on the federal government.

In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Minimum Wage of N30,000 into law, following the passage of the bill by the National Assembly.

The federal parliament passed the minimum wage bill on March 19, 2019 and it was transmitted to Mr Buhari on April 2. He signed this on April 18, 2019.

However, the implementation of the law by state governments has been difficult.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) accused eight states of not implementing the National Minimum Wage Act.

Debate

Leading the debate on the bill, Mr Datti explained that the bill seeks to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.

RelatedNews

War Crimes: Final witness backs plaintiffs’ allegations Kosiah murdered civilians

Alleged War Crimes: Another Kosiah defence witness testifies against him

Boko Haram: Yobe government shuts all boarding schools

Chelsea vs Man United (LIVE UPDATES): Tuchel’s Blues face Red Devils

He noted ”states should determine what they can pay, instead of the National Minimum wage that most states are not complying with”.

He said: “Every attempt to impose minimum wage has always proven controversial. Labour leaders have been seeing minimum wage as collective bargaining. We all know that states are not equal, some states can pay, why some cannot afford it. Even in some states, some local governments, like Surulere local government where the Speaker (Gbajabiamila) is from can pay, but some local governments within the same state cannot.

“In the 1963 Constitution, minimum wage was in the concurrent legislative list. This decentralisation will allow each state to negotiate with labour union in their respective states.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“This proposal is egalitarian as the current approach is abitrary.”

Also supporting the bill, Uzoma Abonta from Abia State said the bill is one of the ‘finest’ legislations in the 9th House.

He said the bill will help in decentralisation of the federation, and devolve more powers to the states.

“This bill is important. The minimum wage as constituted in the constitution is evil. The rent in Abia is different from Abuja. A collective minimum wage is hazardous.

ALSO READ: Minimum Wage: I’m not to blame for LG workers’ protest – Lalong

“Right, some governors will be mischievous with this bill, but they will have to contend with other labour laws.”

Also speaking in support of the bill, Fred Agbedi (PDP Bayelsa), said the bill will allow states ”to allocate salaries they can afford, based on resources available to them”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Opposition

But the deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Constitution amendment, described the bill as “anti-people” and urged his colleagues to reject it.

According to Mr Wase, states are unable to pay wages due to inability to prioritise and not due to lack of funds.

“I know what is going to happen when you allow states to decide minimum wage. It will lead more people into poverty. Even when they have the resources, they will not pay,” he said.

Also speaking against the bill, Aminu Sulaiman said even if the House should allow the bill to scale second reading, ”he will fight it at committee level”.

“This bill is an incentive to states to undermine the collective bargaining power advantage of the union. We will follow this bill to the committee level and fight it.”

Responding, Mr Datti argued that the current law on minimum wage has no implementation mechanism. He argued that most states are not complying with the legislation.

Following the long debate, the “ayes” had the majority votes when the bill was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Restructuring: Nigeria rich in bitumen, spends N300bn importing it- Adesina

Next Post

Ogun ADC lawmakers defect to APC

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Chelsea and Manchester United [PHOTO CREDIT: @ChelseaFC]

EPL Round-Up: Chelsea, Man United tie ends in stalemate

February 28, 2021
Rats used to illustrate the story. [PHOTO CREDIT: BBC]

Major health stories published last week

February 28, 2021
Dangote refinery

Dangote Refinery to sell refined crude in naira – Emefiele

February 28, 2021
APC: Mai Mala Buni, Yobe State Governor [PHOTO: Media Office, Yobe State Government House, Damaturu]

Boko Haram: Yobe government shuts all boarding schools

February 28, 2021
Salihu Tanko-Yakassai

Why DSS arrested Tanko-Yakassai -Official

February 28, 2021
Muslims criticise WAEC over exams timetable

Hijab Controversy: Christian leaders reject Kwara govt. decision as students resume on Monday

February 28, 2021
Next Post
Ogun State House of Assembly [PHOTO CREDIT: The Guardian Nigeria]

Ogun ADC lawmakers defect to APC

Nigerian Police officers on duty [Photo credit: Today.ng]

VIDEO: Police officers filmed flogging Aba resident with machete

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,626,466 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.