Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the National Assembly to swiftly pass a new National Minimum Wage Bill that would reflect the current economic realities in the country.
Falana said the bill should be given accelerated attention and passage in the same manner the lawmakers speedily enacted the National Anthem Act.
According to the Lagos human rights lawyer, it has become imperative to meet the demands of Nigerian workers and promptly resolve the ongoing strike.
Falana’s plea coincides with an emergency meeting between the National Assembly leadership, federal government representatives, and organised labour leaders, emphasising the need for a prompt settlement to end the standoff.
The Senior Advocate, in a statement on Sunday, June 2, 2024, stressed that the call for an ongoing indefinite nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) was a result of the failure of the Federal Government to pay a realistic living new minimum wage.
He noted that the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 expired in April, indicating a long-overdue, necessary, and imperative review.
Falana argues that the National Assembly should have reviewed the national minimum wage by now, as it expires every 5 years.
He believes that the current N30,000 wage is outdated, and the proposed N48,000 increase is insufficient.
Falana pointed out that some state governments, specifically Edo and Lagos, have already announced higher minimum wages of N70,000.
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