The leadership of the National Assembly will, on Tuesday next week, meet labour leaders over a bill which seeks to remove the minimum wage negotiations from the exclusive legislative list.
On Wednesday, workers across 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory staged protests to register their opposition to the bill.
The NLC president further said, “We are going to resist the anti-workers bill; the anti-minimum wage bill sponsored by Datti. It is a dirty bill. We have a written document signed by the President of the NLC and the President of the TUC, itemising our complaints.
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“We are here today on behalf of the Nigerian workers, pensioners, the downtrodden, to make it clear and unambiguous that the bill that seeks to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list is not accepted.”
According to Wabba, the issue with Nigeria is bad governance. He said the workers had suggested how the cost of governance could be cut and resources better managed to leave more funds to pay salaries.
The NLC President also noted that while the local government system had been made to collapse, the huge security votes maintained by governors had not been used to address insecurity in the country.
Addressing the workers on behalf of the Speaker, Ado-Doguwa stated, “He (Gbajabiamila) has also told me to tell you, through the presidents of the organised labour, that he will organise a joint meeting of the National Assembly leadership with the leadership of the organised labour on Tuesday next week, so that this matter can be treated in a manner that Nigerians want.”
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The Majority Leader confirmed receipt of the petition and assured the workers that it would be given “the right treatment.”
Ado-Dogunwa stated, “I want to assure you that the House of Representatives will give you a listening ear and fair hearing. We will listen to your grievances. We will still invite you to come and engage with the relevant committee, of which I am a member; the constitution review committee.
“You will come and make your positions known formally; your positions will be heard at the committee level. And when we come to plenary, if we consider the bill, the members that are representing your constituencies will be on the ground that day to do justice to the bill.
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“And I can understand: the only justice to that bill is to kill it. (workers chorused ‘yes’). Is that your position? Is that what you want? Then, I will like to advise you: go ahead and lobby members that you elected. Tell them that you don’t want that bill, and the members will stand for you and make sure that the bill is killed.”
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