ABUJA- The House of Representatives yesterday call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the Minister of Labour and Employment to commence forthwith the process of negotiating an upward review of the current minimum wage rates

This was sequence to the motion moved on the floor of the House by Hon. Peter Ohiozojeh Akpatason (Edo State) Chairman Committee on Civil Societies and Development Partners, who informed the House that Minimum Wage Act of 2011 had set the lowest payable salary to a worker in Nigeria at ₦18,000.00 only.

Need to Hearken to Calls for Review of the National Minimum Wage Figures to Avert the Looming Nationwide Strike Action:
Hon. Peter Ohiozojeh Akpatason who

Hon. Akpatason further said that there was a tripartite Agreement between the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the National Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and the Federal Government to set up a joint review team to study and recommend an appropriate rate to the Government.

Akpatason felt saddened that despite the Labour Unions having submitted names of their nominees and making several requests for commencement of the review process, the Government was yet to respond positively to the requests.

“The payments of outstanding debts to contractors and arrears of salaries and pensions to workers contributed to the reflation of the economy, and in turn partly contributed to the eventual exit of the economy from recession, and as such, an upward adjustment of the rate of the minimum wage will have similar positive effect on the nation’s economy”.

He lamented that a combination of high inflation and weak Naira exchange value have eroded the purchasing power of fixed income earners in the country who happen to be the bread winners to millions of jobless and aged dependants.

Any nationwide strike action embarked upon by workers at this time is capable of rolling back recent economic gains, thereby returning the nation’s fragile economy into recession that will further exacerbate the suffering of the masses.

The motion which got the blessings of the members of the House unanimously voted in support of the motion when the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara later put it to vote.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara who presided over the plenary session later Mandated the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to ensure implementation.