The last minimum wage

THE last minimum wage bill in Nigeria was signed on September 3, 1981, by President Shehu Shagari. It was N125 per month, which is the equivalent of N45, 000 now. At that time the dollar was equal to N1, so I don’t understand why the government is refusing to pay a minimum wage of N30, 000 per month now. The bill was passed by the House of Representative on August 8, 1981 while the Senate passed the bill on August 31, 1981. Earlier, the House of Representatives approved N100 per month as the National minimum wage while the Senate approved N125 per month. But the joint committee of both Houses after deliberations, agreed on N125 per month. The chairman of the House Committee on Labour then was Chief Edet Etienam from Mbokpa-Eyokun in Oron local government area of now AkwaIbom state.

The Minister of Labour then was Chief Samuel Adebisi Ogedengbe (February 16, 1938- April 28, 1998) from Oka-Akoko in the present Ondo State. Before been appointed Minister, he was Principal African Comprehensive College in Oka-Akoko. The Nigerian Labour Congress then was led by AlhajiHassan Adebayo Sunmonu(77) from Osogbo in Osun state but born in the village of AkimEshiem in Ghana.  Throughout the negotiations, AlhajiSunmonu was living in a 3-bedroom rented apartment in Akoka, Lagos. I must however commend past and present leaders of NLC who in spite of pressure have not betrayed the Nigerian workers. I have in mind Chief Michael Imoudu, Wahab Goodluck, ShehuKangiwa, Lasisi Osunde, Ali Ciroma, Adams Oshiomole, Pascal Bafyau, Omar Abdulwaheed and the incumbent AyubaWabba. AlhajiSunmonu later became the Secretary General of Organisation of African Trade Union(OATUU). In 1980, AlhajiSunmonucoordinated effectively the demand for National minimum wage during President Shehu  Shagari. Two times he led a nationwide strike on the issue. In June 1980, President Shagari formed a bipartisan committee to address the issue on minimum wage.

Members of the committee included the late governor Sam Onanuka Mbakwe (1929-2004), NPP from Avutu-Etiti then governor of  Imo state, Alhaji Muhammed Goni from Karafo, Mobba local government, GNPP, then governor of Borno state, Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali (1929-1993),NPN, from Katagum, then governor of Bauchi state, Professor Ambrose Folorunso Alli (1929-1989) born in Ido-Ani in the present Ondo State but from Ekpoma,(UPN), then governor of Bendel State, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo (1927-1990) from Ijebu-Ode (UPN), then governor of Ogun state, Chief Melford Obiene Okilo (1933-2018) from Emakalakala in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State (NPN),then governor of Rivers state, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi (1940-2010), PRP, then governor of Kano State and Chief Solomon DaushepLar(1933-2010) from Langtang, NPP, then governor of Plateau state. At that time there was no governors’ forum but President Shagari carried all the governors along. The bill was finally passed after much strike on September 3, 1981. It was certified by the then clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Gidado Idris, GCON,(15-03-35 to 15-12-2017). Present at the event was the then Vice- President, Dr Alex Ekwueme (October 21, 1932-November 19, 2017) from Oko, Orumba North local Government of Anambra State,the Chairman of National Assembly, Dr Joseph Wayas from Basang, Obudu local government of Cross River state, who was the Senate President and Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke(1935-2011) from Nnewi in the present Anambra state, who was then Speaker of the House of Representatives. Also present was the special adviser to the President on National Assembly affairs, Dr Kingsley OzumbaMbadiwe (1915-1990) from Arondizuogu, Orlu division of Imo state and his deputy, Alhaji Salihu Abubakar Tanka Yakasai from Kano. Between 1952 and 1966, Alhaji Yakasai was publicity Secretary of Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) of Alhaji Aminu Kano.

The bill was passed under Sub section 1 of Section 54 of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In presenting the bill for President Shagari’s assent, Dr Kingsley Mbadiwe said “It is our hope that the lowest paid workers who will directly benefit from this exercise will in turn increase their productivity to justify the increase in their income”. After assenting to the bill, President Shagari declared: “Let me now only add that this administration will not fold its arms while inflation preempts the advantages which this improved National Wage is designed to confer. We will intensify steps to improve on the supply and distribution of basic commodities throughout the country. We will strive to frustrate the evil machinations of such unpatriotic Nigerians as may wish to cash in on this increased National Minimum Wage, to the detriment of workers and to the disadvantage of our country. Nothing comes out of unreasonable and incessant demands, or from threats of industrial strife. Economic sabotage and all other actions detrimental to the welfare of our country must be avoided. Our labour unions, by the sheer force of responsible opinion, must make it impossible for their leaders to assume confrontational postures, or set on a course of unredeeming state of social and political unrest, to the advantage of none”.

• Boko Haram: No Nigerian territory under insurgents’ control, investigation shows

The bill No 6 of 1981 reads thus” 1(1) As from the commencement of this Act, it shall be the duty of every employer (except as provided for under this Act) to pay a wage not less than a national minimum wage of N125 per month to every worker under his establishment. (2) Any agreement for the payment of wages less than the national minimum wage as prescribed in subsection (1) above, shall be void and of no effect whatsoever. 2—(1) The provisions of subsection (1) of section 1 above shall not apply to :—(a) an establishment in which less than 50 workers are employed (b) an establishment in which workers are employed on part-time basis; (c) an establishment at which workers are paid on commission or on piece rate basis; (d) workers in seasonal employment such as agriculture; (e) any person employed in a vessel or aircraft to which the laws regulating merchant shipping or civil aviation apply.2) The minister may by order published in the Gazette grant other exemptions as he deems necessary in the interest of the national economy taking into consideration reports from Wages Boards or such other body might make representation for exemption on this behalf. 3.-(1) An employer shall pay to the worker a wage not less than the national minimum wage, clear of all deductions (except any deductions required by law or deductions in respect of contributions to provident or pension funds or schemes agreed to by the workers and approved by the Minister) and, if the employer fails to do so he shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding N100 and in the case of continuing offence to a fine not exceeding N10 for each day during which the offence continues”.

• Teniola, a former director at the presidency wrote from lagos.