NLC Insists National Minimum Wage Stays On Exclusive List

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has recommended the retention
of the national minimum wage on the exclusive legislative list.

The Kano State Chairman of NLC council, Kabiru Minjibir, gave
the recommendation at a two-day zonal public hearing for the
proposed amendment of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of
Nigeria on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Mr Minjibir, who represented the NLC zone comprising Kaduna,
Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, said their submissions at
different constitution review engagements were anchored on
promoting inclusive socio-economic development.

“We also try to promote decent work, gender equality, respect
for labour standards, good governance and strengthening of
institutions,” he said.

He said that their submission for the minimum wage to remain in
the exclusive legislative list was to ensure it remained
implemented at the federal level and not brought down to the state
where governors decide what to pay their workers.

“If the minimum wage is brought under the discretion of the
state governors, then there will come a time when they will not pay
their workers at all or they will decide to pay less of what it is
being paid currently.

“Labour matters are governed by international standards as
prescribed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO),” he
said.

Mr Minjibir said that once the ILO adopted any international
labour standard, especially its conventions and protocols, it was
demanded of member states through their national parliaments to
ratify and domesticate them in their national laws not sub-national
or state laws.

He called on the government to critically address the issue of
pension reform, judicial, local government and legislative autonomy
as part of resolutions in the constitutional review.

According to him, if autonomy is granted to judiciary and local
government, it will bring about massive development in public
organisations and the lives of the people in general.

“The issues of electoral reform, gender equality, public revenue
allocation, strengthening independence of oversight institutions,
residency and indigene provisions, the immunity clause and state
creation should also be critically looked into,” he said.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has recommended the retention
of the national minimum wage on the exclusive legislative list.

The Kano State Chairman of NLC council, Kabiru Minjibir, gave
the recommendation at a two-day zonal public hearing for the
proposed amendment of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of
Nigeria on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Mr Minjibir, who represented the NLC zone comprising Kaduna,
Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, said their submissions at
different constitution review engagements were anchored on
promoting inclusive socio-economic development.

“We also try to promote decent work, gender equality, respect
for labour standards, good governance and strengthening of
institutions,” he said.

He said that their submission for the minimum wage to remain in
the exclusive legislative list was to ensure it remained
implemented at the federal level and not brought down to the state
where governors decide what to pay their workers.

“If the minimum wage is brought under the discretion of the
state governors, then there will come a time when they will not pay
their workers at all or they will decide to pay less of what it is
being paid currently.

“Labour matters are governed by international standards as
prescribed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO),” he
said.

Mr Minjibir said that once the ILO adopted any international
labour standard, especially its conventions and protocols, it was
demanded of member states through their national parliaments to
ratify and domesticate them in their national laws not sub-national
or state laws.

He called on the government to critically address the issue of
pension reform, judicial, local government and legislative autonomy
as part of resolutions in the constitutional review.

According to him, if autonomy is granted to judiciary and local
government, it will bring about massive development in public
organisations and the lives of the people in general.

“The issues of electoral reform, gender equality, public revenue
allocation, strengthening independence of oversight institutions,
residency and indigene provisions, the immunity clause and state
creation should also be critically looked into,” he said.