House of Representatives To Set up Committee for Payment of Living Wage

The House of Representatives is to Set up Committee for the payment of Living Wage to Nigerian Workers.

The decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored  by the House Minority Leader of the House, Hon Kingsley Chinda and thirty nine other members.

While adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to look into modalities for the payment of living wages to Nigerian workers at rates that match economic realities.

The House also resolved to transmit the resolution to the Senate for concurrence.

The motion expressed concern  that presently, no Nigerian labourer can live with a wage of less than one hundred thousand naira going by situation of things in the country.

It said that there was need for immediate and pragmatic steps to improve the income of Nigerians.

Afford basic needs

The House noted that the rising rate of inflation in the country has made it difficult for average Nigerians to afford basic needs such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and clothing.

“Concerned that according to the World Bank report, low purchasing power in the country occasioned by a high inflationary rate, has led to an increase in poverty across the country. More Nigerians will go down the economic line, with the poor population increasing, this, in effect, would lead to desperation and a loss of faith in the government.”

According to the Minority Leader, despite measures introduced by the government to cushion the effects of subsidy removal, the cost of living remained high and unbearable for many Nigerians.

“The fuel subsidy was removed in May 2023, the federal government offered palliatives to cushion its effects. However, the ameliorative effect of this measure has been overtaken by the continued rise in the cost of goods and services; purchasing power is low owing to the continued rise in the cost of living in the country and the fall of the Naira.”

The Motion was referred to Committees on Finance, Labor, employment and Productivity and National Planning and Economic Development for further legislative action.

Lateefah Ibrahim