The leadership of the National Assembly has said it will meet with Labour leaders next week Tuesday, following the nationwide protest conducted on Wednesday by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress over a bill which seeks to remove minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.
The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing workers who stormed the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to protest the bill.
However, the sponsor of the bill, Datti Muhammad, condemned the action of the unions, saying they should be more civil in their opposition to the bill.
Recall that the bill seeking to remove minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list passed second reading in the House on February 23.
If the Bill becomes Law, the Federal Government will not have exclusive jurisdiction to determine a national minimum wage and states will now have the power to determine their own minimum wages.
Nigerian workers unions gathered at the National Assembly complex as early as 9am on Wednesday with placards to protest against the move.
Although security agents initially shut the gate and prevented them from entering, at 11am they overwhelmed the operatives and forced their way in.
The Ondo State Assembly also assured workers and leaders of the Organized Labour that it would reject any Bill seeking the removal of minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List of the nation’s constitution.