THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will tomorrow storm the National Assembly to commence the battle for
the passage and implementation of the N18,000 national minimum wage.
The congress said after its National Executive Council meeting, at the weekend, that the leadership of all its affiliates and the National Administrative Council (NAC) would converge on Abuja to seek audience with the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the bill.
President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, expressed concern over the delay in the passage of the bill and its subsequent implementation, adding that the delay was becoming too much for the workers to endure.
Comrade Omar said: “The congress is expressing concern that the delay is becoming too much for Nigerian workers to endure. We understand that the National Assembly is on recess as a result of the ongoing national voter registration, they are yet to resume.
“But it is our belief that the National Assembly, in line with their pledges to us when their delegation visited us, will give the bill an accelerated hearing. They had said as soon as the bill gets before them, they would give it accelerated hearing and passage.
As a result of this and being fully aware that the National Assembly is to effectively resume on Tuesday, the 8th of February, the National Executive Council has resolved that the leadership of the entire affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Administrative Council converge on Abuja on Tuesday, the 8th February and will seek audience with the leadership of National Assembly with a view to urging them and reminding them about their pledge to us and urging them to give accelerated hearing to this very important bill.
“We believe the National Assembly will live up to its words that as soon as they resume, they will give an accelerated hearing and passage to this bill to the effect that workers in Nigeria are likely to commence the enjoyment of the benefits of the minimum wage by the end of February 2011.”