President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday evening transmitted the new minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.
The transmission followed the approval of N27, 000 by the National Council of State.
Meanwhile, labour has rejected the N27, 000 insisting on N30, 000 as agreed by the Tripartite Committee that negotiated the new wage.
According to the NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, the Council had no jurisdiction endorsing a different amount after the tripartite committee had submitted its report.
Recall though that governors under the aupices of the Nigerian Governors Forum rejected the N30, 000 on the grounds of ability to pay. They had proposed N24, 500.
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Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly affairs, Ita Enang, confirmed that the bill was transmitted to the parliament on Wednesday, but did not give details of the new minimum wage bill. The bill was transmitted after the day’s plenary.
Labour and Productivity Minister, Chris Ngige, had told newsmen after the National Executive Council meeting that the bill would be transmitted to the federal parliament before the close of work on Wednesday.
It is expected that the letter, informing the federal lawmakers of the bill’s transmission would be read on the floor of both chambers today, Thursday, Jan. 24, though the lawmakers are proceeding on a short vacation today.