Senate Approves N30k National Minimum Wage [Update]

The Nigerian Senate has, on Tuesday, approved the recommended N30,000 National Minimum Wage.

The Senate gave the approval during the presentation and consideration of its report by the Ad-hoc Committee on the National Minimum Wage on the National Minimum Wage Act CAP N61 LFN (repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 722).

The bill was presented by Senator Francis Alimikhena stipulated the National Minimum Wage at N30,000.

During the presentation Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe urged the Senate to receive and consider the report of the Ad-hoc Committee.

Speaking on the presentation by the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Ahmad Lawan said:

“The Ad-hoc Committee promised to give a new minimum wage to Nigerians and they have fulfilled the promise. This gesture should be appreciated.”

Speaking further, he noted:

“We do not have to wait until we are threatened with strike action before we take action.

“The Nigerian workers must show that the government is paying them and they are paying the government in service.”

On his part, Senator James Manager commented:

“Despite all that has been happening, I believe the Committee has done well.

“We need to always do things smoothly so that productivity will be high. It is embarrassing to know that the minimum wage is not applied by all governments.”

Senator Biodun Olujimi, complimenting his colleagues, added:

“What we have done is to give the people a minimum wage. It is not worth it if the states are unable to pay the minimum wage.”

Speaking on the passage of the Bill, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki said:

“Let me join our colleagues to commend the efforts of the committee.

“More importantly, let me commend the patience of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the Labour Union, who have over the years been calling for this minimum wage and have carried their efforts responsibly.

“I want to commend the leaders of the organisations of the union. Let me also state that as government, we should ensure that at times like these, we should not wait for there to be strikes to do what is truly deserving for our workers.

“I hope that with this minimum wage our workers will double their efforts to increase their productivity, so that we can also improve the general productivity of the country.

“It is my hope that the implementation of this will start immediately,” the Senate President said.

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