The House of Representatives has decided to convene a meeting with representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress in an effort to persuade them to postpone their intended strike regarding the minimum wage.
Nigerians were reassured by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who led Thursday’s plenary session in lieu of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, that the meeting with labor unions would help settle the controversy surrounding the protests over a new minimum wage for Nigerians.
The House resolution was adopted after a motion on a matter of personal explanation made in plenary by Kelechi Nwogu, the member representing the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers State.
The legislator reminded his peers that organized labor has declared its intention to go on strike beginning on May 31 due to a disagreement with the federal government over the approval of a new minimum wage.
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While noting that there was a need for proactive steps by the House to avert the strike, recalled that the lower legislative chamber had on March 16 adopted a motion on the need for a new minimum wage.
According to him, “If you look at Order 18 Rule 1 Sub 5 of our Standing Order, it says any matter referred to a committee shall be treated within 30 days, otherwise the committee stands discharged after 60 days, except there is an extension of time.
“This House adopted a motion on the need to provide a living wage for workers in Nigeria, sponsored by the deputy minority leader and others on March 16. The report was supposed to be presented to the House before this time”.
Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, urged the House to take immediate action “Rather than allow labor to go on strike” in his speech.
