News

Reps Urge FG To Fix Living Wage For Nigerian Workers Not Minimum Wage

Published

4 months ago

June 5, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…commend organised labour for commitment, suspension of strike

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to redirect the focus of the negotiations from fixing a new minimum wage to fixing a realistic living wage for Nigerians.

The lawmakers also commended Labour, Employment and Preductraity unions for their commitment towards negotiating a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers at this very critical period and the resolve to call off the strike in the interim.

The House further urged government to further consider the downward review of electricity tariff, to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.

These resolutions was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the “Urgent Need To Consider The Imperativeness Of Fixing a Living Wage For Nigerian Workers In Order To Ameliorate Current Economic Hardship”, by Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. Isa Ali, on Tuesday at plenary.

According to Rep. Ali, global economic outlook as well as recent socio-economic policies of government have resulted in inflation, increase in electricity tariff, currency devaluation and other diverse economic consequences especially for Nigerian workers.

He noted that government has been locked in negotiations with labour unions towards the upward review of the Minimum Wage for some time, without any agreement, leading to a recent interruption in the negotiations.

The Minority Whip further commended government for showing absolute commitment by imploring the labour unions to return to the negotiation table.

He said: “Aware that the National Assembly repealed and enacted the National Minimum Wage Acting 2019 to fix the minimum wage at 830,000 even when the wa the Executive arm had suggested $27,000 at the time;

“Also aware that in line with Section 3(4) of the Act, the extant minimum wage which commenced on April 18, 2019has expired after five years on April 18, 2024, thereby calling for a further review of the existing Act”.

He noted that the implication of payment of 835,000 wage award by the Federal Government to public servants as one of the ways of cushioning the effects of current economic hardship, including the May 1st pronouncement of percentage increases in salaries of civil servants has for the time being, increased the minimusrwage to 87000;

“Also notes that the Labour, Employment and Productivity unions has since demanded for a living wage as against the minimum wage to meet today’s economic realities;

“Desirous to fix a living wage for Nigerians in order to cushion the effects of economic downturn and activate productivity in the public service:”, he added.

Debating the motion extensively, lawmakers called for a living wage for the worker and not minimum wage.

“There are essential services that should be given attention during strike. As a result of the shutdown of the national grid, lots of lives were lost due to hospitals that could operate. The National Assembly should amend the National Minimum Wage Act”.

Rep. Aliyu Madaki said the issues of insecurity in the country and corruption is very worrisome.

“We can not fight corruption if we don’t have a living wage. The House already adopted a motion on living wage. Section 16 (2) already covered it in the constitution. What Nigerian workers deserve is living wage and not minimum wage.”

The House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, said the government has failed in the provision of security and welfare for the citizens; even as he said that the labour unions should not have shutdown the national grid.

“Section 14 and 16 provide for security and welfare of the people. Can we say we have carried out that function of governance? Can we say we have provided security and welfare? The answer NO!

“One Nigerian life, equal one minute silence. Workers are crying about their salaries as it is no longer possible to live on N50,000, and we expect them to earn that and continue to serve.

“We must provide living wages for the workers. We can’t shy away from living wages while talking about minimum wage.

“Also, sometimes, when they embark on strike, they should not overstep boundaries. Those who are protesting, why they have a good course, must adopt proper procedures and not violate the law.

“I want to say that with the speed we passed the national anthem act, we should recall the minimum wage act and pass it. And if the president refuses to sign, then we override him”, Chinda stated.

Rep. Stanley Olajide in his contribution called for the criminalization of certain actions.

“Shutting down the national grid is killing those you seek to protect. You can not embark on industrial action and kill people. We should criminalise Shutting down of national grid”.

The Deputy Minority Leader, George Ozodinobi, said there should be a benchmark of N75,000 which should be able to cover bills if workers

“I advocate a benchmark of N75,000, which is the price of a bag of rice, while also considering other things like school fees, medicals, and others”.

After an extensive debate of the motion, the House unanimously adopted the motion and referred it to the committee on Labour for further legislative actions.

News

Ecoparl: Speaker Ibrahima Reaffirms Parliament’s Dedication to Regional Unity

Published

4 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Honourable Memounatou Ibrahima, restated that the parliament remains committed to ensuring the unity and integration of the people within the subregion.

According to Speaker Ibrahima, the Parliament will continue to use parliamentary diplomacy to engage countries that are considering leaving the bloc due to political challenges, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as a result of military coups they experienced.

The Speaker stated this when she led a delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament on a working visit to the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday in Abuja.

She highlighted that while countries may break formal cooperation, the people of the region remain interconnected, adding that the Parliament, as representatives of these people, will work to maintain the unity.

Ibrahima expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Senate for supporting ECOWAS by providing necessary facilities for their plenary sessions, even as she discussed the socio-political challenges facing the region, as well as how parliamentarians can contribute more to address these issues.

She said: “We strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, because we know that the countries might break cooperation but we cannot separate the population. The population always live together and we as representatives of the people, we are doing our best so that this living together will continue to be reality and even made better.

“We came to thank him for all the facilities that the senate has been providing to the ECOWAS Parliament to facilitate the holding of our sessions here in Abuja. We also discussed on the socio-political situation in the community. We also discussed on the ways parliamentarians can make more contributions on the various issues and the challenges that we are experiencing in ECOWAS”.

The President of the Senate,

Senator Akpabio, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Barau Jubril, commended Ibrahima’s leadership and her efforts in using parliamentary diplomacy to foster cooperation within ECOWAS, especially in light of the challenges posed by countries considering an exit from the bloc.

He noted that since Speaker Meimounatou assumed office, she has deployed enormous parliamentary diplomacy to bear not only on the level of cooperation with institutions in the region but also on those that have expressed the wish to quit the regional block.

Naijablitznews.com reports that Senator Jubril is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

He said: “Since she was elected the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, she has been up and doing in terms of giving leadership to the parliament. It is in that regard that she is here trying to chart a better course for the parliament to make sure that she brings parliamentary diplomacy to bear in terms of our cooperation not only with those who are within the community as we speak but also even those who are attempting to leave the community.

“It is in that respect that she is here, and what she is doing is commendable. She has come to strengthen her idea and initiative of making the parliament stronger and more effective”.

News

Air Force Begins Moving Electoral Materials For Edo Guber Election

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.

The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.

This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.

Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.

The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.

Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.

“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.

News

“Dancing gives me abundant joy and peace of mind”-Gov Adeleke

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.

The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.

An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.

Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”

Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.

Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.

Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.

He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”