The House of Representatives is to set up an ad hoc committee to ensure payment of a living wage to all workers in the country.
The lawmakers took the decision after adopting a motion sponsored by 35 members, at plenary on Wednesday, march 6, 2024, in Abuja.
Rep. Aliyu Madaki (NNPP-Kano State), who presented the motion, said inflation in the country was making access to basic needs, such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation and clothing very difficult.
He said the inflation in the country also had negative effects on the cost of living, with the cost of food, accommodation, education and transportation skyrocketing.
Madaki said Nigeria as a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and quoting Article 23 of the declaration, gives an individual working the right to just and favourable remuneration to ensure such a person and his/her family exist in dignity.
Madaki said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) had a 2030 achievement deadline, adding that eight of the 17 SDGs demand the payment of a living wage to workers.
According to the World Bank report, he said low purchasing power in the country, occasioned by a high inflation rate, has led to an increase in poverty in the country.
Madaki recalled that the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, had, at an event, said that only a living wage that could ameliorate the insecurity and corruption pervading the country, was required at this time.
“Recall when 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.
Gunmen kill herder, cows in Plateau “We are aware that a wage award was granted by the president recently, but the purchasing power is low, owing to the continued rise in the cost of living in the country and the fall of the naira.
“We are also aware that Trade Economics in 2018 reported the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family to be N43,200 per month and N137,600 per month, respectively. This was a pre-subsidy removal report.
“Further note that presently, no labourer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.00,” he said.
The lawmaker said that unless immediate and pragmatic steps were taken to improve the income of Nigerians, more citizens would go down the economic line, with the poor population increasing.
According to him, this, in effect, will lead to desperation and loss of faith in the government.
Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, ruled that the outcome of the process would be sent to the Senate for concurrence.
21st Century Chronicle
