Minimum wage bill scales first, second reading in Senate

THE Senate on Thursday passed the National Minimum Wage Bill (2019) through the Second Reading and committee the same to a Special Adhoc Committee for further legislative action.

The lawmakers, who adjourned sitting briefly to be able to achieve the feat took the bill through the First and the Second Readings the same day.

Senators had to suspend their rules, which would have prolonged the consideration of the debate on the bill to ensure its passage through the Second Reading on Thursday.

The bill scaled the First and Second Reading stages following the suspicion of Senate standing rules, which would have mandated the consideration of the bill on another day.

Senators who spoke on the general principles of the bill affirmed the need for a new minimum wage as well as the urgency of the matter at hand.

Senator Barnabas Gemade called on his colleagues to ensure expeditious passage of the bill adding that Nigerian workers deserve an improved wage.

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He also said that the Minimum wage should have been pegged at N30,000 which was the demand by the workers.

Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan in his comments said that the Federal Government deserved some commendations for pulling through the new wage bill.

He said: “Let me congratulate the Federal Government, the 36 States of Nigeria and stakeholders on this Bill for the increase in the minimum wage from N18,000 to N27,000. Our Civil Servants will be excited about this. It may not be all they hoped, but it is still an improved situation. Nigeria cannot develop without the help of our Civil Servants.”

Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimni, who also spoke on the bill said that the lawmakers would work hard to complete the process of its passage in no time.

She said: “We will work hard, but it is important that this does not become another election gimmick. Let the people who should get paid, actually get paid.”

Human rights crusader and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, also spoke in like manner, declaring that though the amount in question might not be enough, the Senate should expeditiously pass it into law.

He said: “It is important that we lend our voice to see to the realization of this Bill. Even though this may not be enough, productivity is sure to increase.”

Senator Gemade in his contributions said he was of the opinion that the Federal Government should be able to pay N30, 000 minimum wage adding: “I think the Federal Government should be able to pay N30, 000 as opposed to N27, 000. Let us accelerate the passage of this Bill, it should not be delayed any further.”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over Thursday’s plenary noted that it was the first time the 8th Senate would suspend its rules to take a First and Second Reading in respect of an Executive Communication.

Earlier in the day, Ekweremadu had read the letter forwarding the Minimum Wage Bill to the Senate.

The letter, dated January 22, 2019, and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari was titled” Approval of a new Minimum wage for Nigerian Workers-amendment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment Act) 2011.”

The letter presenting the bill to the Senate, which was addressed to the Senate President read in part: “The purpose of this letter is to forward to you for legislative action, a new minimum wage bill, to further amend the national Minimum wage(amendment) Act, 2011, in order to give a new minimum wage of N27,000(twenty-seven thousand Naira) per month to the lowest paid Nigerian worker from the current eighteen thousand Naira(N18000) per month.

“This new bill and the amendments contained therein were arrived at after consultations by the tripartite committee on national minimum wage which was constituted by me in November 2017, to consider, make recommendations and advise the government on this issue. The tripartite committee comprised representatives of the Federal Government, Governors’ Forum, Organised private sector, and the Organised Federation of Trade Unions in Nigeria.

The Federal Executive Council, the National Economic Council, and the National Council of states have all noted and approved these recommended amendments. Other highlights of the amendments include:

(i) Exemptions for establishments employing less than twenty-five (25) persons;

(ii) Five(5) years review period of the Act in consonance with the constitutional review period for pensions;

(iii) Alterations in the amount of fines payable by defaulters on the prosecution.

“Bearing in mind that the issue of prescribing a national minimum wage for the federation or any part thereof is within the Exclusive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and listed as item no. 34 of part 1 of the Second Schedule, it is my pleasure to forward this bill for expeditious action.”

While speaking at the plenary on the necessity for the passage of the bill, Ekweremadu said that the Nigeria Labour Congress and its members deserve commendations for pulling the bill through this point.

He said: “Let me congratulate the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and all those who have brought this to this point. I would also like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for the speedy consideration of this Bill.

“This will be the first time the 8th Senate is reading an Executive Communication and suspending our rules to take a First and Second Reading and assigning the Bill to a Committee, all in one day. This shows how committed we are to this issue.

“I believe what we have said so far will suffice in guiding the Committee. Just to clarify: the new minimum wage brought to us is set at N27,000. There were news reports of N27,000 for state workers and N30,000 for the Federal Government workers, but this is a single national minimum wage of N27,000. Another issue of concern is whether this affects organisations and establishments employing less than 25 persons.

“If this does not affect these people, it means a whole number of people are left outside the minimum wage and that is not right. In most countries, the minimum wage applies to all workers, regardless of the number of people in an establishment.

“I believe that at the public hearing, we will be able to clarify and sort it all out. We must try our best to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.”

Members of the ad-hoc committee to consider the bill include Senate Majority Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (South West), who is named the chairman; Senator Abu Ibrahim, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour; Senator Shehu Sani (representing the North West), Senator Sam Egwu (South East), Senator Suleiman Adokwe (North Central), Senator Francis Alimikhena (South-South); and Senator Binta Masi Garba (North East).