Minimum Wage Defaulters: NASS Moves to Enact Penalty Laws for States

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), has announced that the National Assembly is drafting legislation to ensure all 36 states adhere to the new minimum wage law.

Senator Adaramodu made this disclosure during an interview in Abuja on Friday.

Negotiations between the federal government and organized labor over a new minimum wage are ongoing. The federal government has proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000, while the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are advocating for N250,000. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has rejected the N62,000 proposal, citing financial constraints that might force some states to borrow funds to pay salaries.

Despite these challenges, Senator Adaramodu emphasized that the proposed legislation would impose sanctions on states that fail to comply with the new minimum wage law. He said, “We are proposing a watertight bill that the President will sign to ensure strict adherence.”

He further explained that the bill would involve inputs from various stakeholders, including the organized labor and private sector, to ensure comprehensive compliance. The National Assembly plans to expedite the passage of the bill once an agreement on the minimum wage is reached.

Senator Adaramodu assured that the National Assembly would prioritize the bill’s passage for the benefit of Nigerian workers. He stated, “If it is possible within 30 minutes, we will do that. So it depends.”

He concluded that the bill would receive speedy passage if there is a consensus between the federal government and organized labor on the minimum wage figure, emphasizing that the legislative process would ensure no opposition from any negotiating body.