The step by the National Assembly and some state governors to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List have been described as insensitive to the economic hardship being faced by the poor, even as the rate of inflation increases in the country.
This was as workers in Taraba State joined the national protest against a bill proposing to put the minimum wage on the Concurrent Legislative List.
If the National Assembly succeeds in removing the minimum wage from the Exclusive List, lower cadre civil servants will be at the receiving end, as this will be a drawback on the implementation of the 30,000 Naira minimum wage for government workers.
With the continuous increase in the prices of fuel, electricity, water, food and other necessities, poor Nigerians may be in for tougher times.
Civil servants in Taraba State embarked on a peaceful protest to the Taraba State House of Assembly.
They presented a letter rejecting the moves by the National Assembly to belittle the significance of their fight for the implementation of the 30,000 Naira minimum wage.
The member representing Zing Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Kizito Bonzena, received the aggrieved workers, on behalf of Speaker Joseph Kunin.
Though Taraba State is yet to implement the new minimum wage, the workers are hopeful that it will be implemented from this year.
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Removing the minimum wage from the exclusive to the concurrent list by the National Assembly implies that jurisdiction on minimum wage issues will be between workers and the state governments.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
