Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Reps Resolve To Meet NLC Over Minimum Wage Argument

POSTED ON May 24, 2024 •   Breaking News      BY Benedicta Bassey
House of Representative/ Photo credit: Premiumtimes

In an attempt to prevent the scheduled walkout over the minimum wage, the House of representative has decided to meet with officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress. 

While presiding over Thursday's plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu gave Nigerians hope that the meeting with labor unions will help settle the dispute around the calls for a new minimum wage for their country's workforce.

The House resolution was adopted after a motion on a matter of personal explanation made in plenary by Kelechi Nwogu, the member representing the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers State.

While noting that there was a need for proactive steps by the House to avert the strike, he recalled that the lower legislative chamber, on March 16, adopted a motion on the need for a new minimum wage.

He, however, noted that the committee set up to come up with a proposed living wage for Nigerian workers was yet to report back to the House, contrary to the provision of the House Standing Order, which mandated committees to complete their assignments within 30 days.

According to him, “If you look at Order 18 Rule 1 Sub 5 of our Standing Order, it says any matter referred to a committee shall be treated within 30 days, otherwise the committee stands discharged after 60 days, except there is an extension of time.

“This House adopted a motion on the need to provide a living wage for workers in Nigeria, sponsored by the deputy minority leader and others on March 16. The report was supposed to be presented to the House before this time.”

In his contribution, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, urged the House to act swiftly to avert the planned strike.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, on Thursday, lamented that Nigeria was just the ‘Giant of Africa’ without reasonable salaries for its workers.

While expressing that it is tired of excuses, it also decried the weakness of the naira amid the current economic challenges in the country.

The National President, Festus Osifo, stated this during the South-West Labour Summit, with the theme: “Repositioning The Labour Movement Amidst Economic Decline in Nigeria,” held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Osifo said, “We called ourselves the Giant of Africa, yet we can’t pay a reasonable minimum wage. We are tired of the government telling us to continue coping.”

He said Nigerian workers were facing a lot of financial challenges, as he urged the Federal Government to ensure the economy of the nation was well managed so that the naira could have more value and compete with others across the world.

On the ongoing minimum wage negotiation, Osifo said what Nigerian workers wanted was not just a minimum wage but a living wage.

READ ALSO
FG allocates N46.48m for alcohol control policy
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA —The Federal Government has allocated N46,475,353 in the 2025 budget for the developme...

READ ALSO
INEC May destroy 6million uncollected PVCs
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The Independent National Electoral Commission may introduce a policy to retrie...

READ ALSO
Youths call for additional military base to curb terrorism, banditry
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

NIGER STATE, Nigeria — Youths in Niger state have called on the federal government to create m...

READ ALSO
Navy, Air Force to spend over N77bn on cutting-edge equipment
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA — In a bid to bolster operational capabilities, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air...

READ ALSO
World Bank scraps loan fees to aid vulnerable nations projects 10% drop in GCP by 2026
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

The World Bank has announced the scrapping of several loan fees to aid vulnerable nations even as it...

READ ALSO
Nigeria will not permit foreign military bases, says Gen Musa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

SOKOTO, Nigeria - The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has reaffirmed Nigeria’...

READ ALSO
Destabilise Niger Republic baseless – FG
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA- The Nigerian government has described as baseless, allegations by Nigerien military leader,...

READ ALSO
Ghana to join visa free countries January 7
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

The Ghanaian Government On Thursday announced its plan to approve a visa-free entry policy for natio...

OUR CHANNELS:

Lagos drug lords jail 28 years, forfeit VGC houses
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

LAGOS,Nigeria - Four drug kingpins involved in the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine...


CBN blames old pipelines for oil revenue drop
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

The Central Bank of Nigeria has attributed the significant decline in oil revenue for the third quar...


Two killed, 15 injured on Lagos-Ibadan expressway on boxing day
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed the death of two people and 15 others injured in a lone...


NHIA inaugurate groundbreaking initiative to reduce mortality
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA (NAN) - The federal government, through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has i...


FCT CP Inspects Recreational Centers in Abuja
BY Ebiakuboere England December 27, 2024 0

ABUJA- The Federal Capital Territory's Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, made an operational...


University of Abuja Denies Allegations of Bias in Vice Chancellor Appointment Process
BY Ebiakuboere England December 26, 2024 0

The University of Abuja has denied allegations of bias and irregularities in the ongoing process to...


Govs, ministers advocate peace, unity at Christmas
BY Benedicta Bassey December 26, 2024 0

NIGERIA — Governors, ministers, and lawmakers have called on Nigerians to embrace peace and un...


Okpebholo swears in perm secs urges efficient, transparent service
BY Benedicta Bassey December 26, 2024 0

EDO STATE, Nigeria  —Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has sworn in new permanent sec...


Osun advocate railway service extension to enhance economic productivity
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

OSUN STATE, Nigeria —The Osun State government has called on the Nigerian Railway Corporation...


38 dead in Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on Christmas Day celebration
BY Benedicta Bassey December 27, 2024 0

No fewer than thirty-eight people reported lost their lives following the Azerbaijan Airlines plane...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu