Tinubu Sends ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Bill To NASS

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday transmitted a national minimum wage bill to the House of Representatives in the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The President and the leadership of the Organised Labour had last Thursday agreed on ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. Information Minister Mohammed Idris had said “the new national minimum that Mr President is expected to submit to the National Assembly is ₦70,000”. The truce between the government and labour sides followed a series of talks between labour leaders and the President in the last few weeks after months of failed talks between labour organs and a tripartite committee on minimum wage constituted by the President in January. The committee, which comprised state and federal governments and the Organised Private Sector, had proposed ₦62,000 while labour insisted on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage for workers who currently earn ₦30,000 as minimum wage. Labour had said ₦30,000 was unsustainable for any worker going by the economic vagaries of inflation and high cost of living which followed the removal of petrol subsidy by the President. Despite its initial insistence on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage, Labour accepted the President’s offer of ₦70,000 last Thursday. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said Labour accepted ₦70,000 and rejected a proposal by President Bola Tinubu to pay ₦250,000 minimum wage on a condition to increase petrol prices. He also said Labour agreed to the ₦70,000 offer because minimum wage won’t be reviewed once in five years anymore but once every three years. The transmission of the wage bill came about six weeks after the President said in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would be sent to the National Assembly for passage.

BREAKING: Bill to create extra 74 seats for women in parliament passes second reading

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the constitution to create extra legislative seats for women in the National and state assemblies. The bill, jointly sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, and 12 others, was debated on the floor, with several members vehemently opposing it. It proposes to creat one senatorial seat and one House seat in each state and the FCT. It seeks to amend Sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution to provide one special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the FCT, effective after the term of the current National Assembly and subject to review every 16 years. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend Section 91 of the document to provide three special seats reserved exclusively for women in the Houses of Assembly of each state of the federation, which shall be spread across the three senatorial districts of each state.

Senate passes North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Establishment Bill into law

The senate, on Thursday passed into law the bill seeking the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The bill was sponsored by Senator Abba Patrick Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader. The bill, which passed First and Second Readings on the 5th of October, 2023, and 21st of February, 2024 respectively, was first sponsored in the 9th Senate by Senator Moro where it passed first and second readings but could not get presidential assent before the expiration of the 9th Senate. Senator Moro had argued in his lead debate that the commission, when established would be saddled with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from the federal government and donors for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of flood and farmers/herders clashes, communal clashes, construction of large format drainage systems, dredging of rivers Niger and Benue to control flood and incidental matters, as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy and other related environmental or developmental challenges facing the North Central Nigeria. The passage of the bill followed adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties submitted during plenary. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary congratulated Senator Moro and all those who contributed to the success of the bill. He expressed optimism that President Tinubu would assent to the bill for the overall development of North Central Nigeria, which comprises Kogi, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

10th Senate Passes Anti-Doping Bill

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, June 6, passed the “National Anti-Doping Bill 2024.” This legislation, requested by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to prohibit Nigerian athletes’ consumption of performance-enhancing substances both during and after sporting competitions. President Bola Tinubu had requested the Senate to enact the law penultimate week in a letter read on the floor by the deputy Senate president, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary. The bill’s passage comes as part of Nigeria’s efforts to align with international sports standards ahead of the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in France. In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu emphasized the need for Nigeria to domesticate and enforce the international convention against doping in sports. The bill also proposes the establishment of a Nigeria anti-doping centre tasked with implementing Nigeria’s obligations under the World Anti-Doping Code. The bill was reviewed by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Mohammed Monguno. After thorough consideration, the committee’s recommendations were adopted, and the bill was approved for a third reading following a voice vote led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. This legislative step marks a critical development in Nigeria’s sports governance. It ensures that athletes adhere to fair play and integrity, thereby fostering a clean sporting environment nationally and globally.

Senate Divided Over Proposed Bill to Replace Open Grazing with Ranching in Nigeria

A bill, likely to test the will of the ruling elite to address the lingering farmers/herders’ clash has gone through the second reading in the Senate, despite stiff opposition by some senators from the northern part of the country. The bill seeks to outlaw open grazing in Nigeria, while institute ranching in the states of pastoralists’ origin. Sponsored by Senator Zam Titus Tertenger of the APC representing Benue North West, the bill faced a divided Senate but managed to pass its second reading. Senator Tertenger argued passionately for ranching as the only viable solution to the recurring conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria. He emphasized the urgent need to modernize livestock-keeping practices to ensure the safety and well-being of both the herds and the herders. Citing alarming statistics of lives lost and millions displaced due to these conflicts, Tertenger urged his colleagues to act decisively. Support for the bill came from Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe of APGA (Abia South), Garba Musa Maidoki of the PDP (Kebbi South), and Abba Moro of the PDP (Benue South). However, opposition was strong, with Senators Adamu Aliero of the PDP (Kebbi Central), Suleiman Kawu of the NNPP (Kano South), and Danjuma Goje of the APC (Gombe Central) raising objections. Senator Aliero cited constitutional provisions guaranteeing free movement across states with property, arguing against limiting ranching to pastoralists’ states of origin. Similarly, Senator Kawu deemed the bill incompatible with Nigeria’s constitutional framework. Efforts to defer the bill were led by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau of the APC (Kano North), who advised the sponsor to reconsider its approach. Nevertheless, the bill proceeded to its second reading following a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, despite the sponsor’s reluctance to withdraw it. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Trade and Investment, and Judiciary and Legal Matters for further scrutiny over the next four weeks.

Electoral Bill Passes Second Reading, Paving Way for Electronic Transmission of Election Results

The Nigerian House of Representatives achieved a significant milestone on Wednesday as it passed the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill for Second Reading, brightening the prospect for electronic transmission of election results to minimise fraud in the nation’s electoral process. The Bill sponsored by Hon. Francis Waive, representing the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu federal constituency of Delta State, aims to amend the existing Electoral Act to facilitate the electronic transmission of election results. During the debate on the general principles of the bill, Hon. Waive underscored the inadequacies of the current Electoral Act 2022 and emphasized the importance of modernizing it to accommodate electronic transmission of election results. He argued that such an amendment is essential for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and combating electoral fraud. In addition to advocating for electronic transmission, Hon. Waive proposed a regular review of the voter register every ten years. This measure, he argued, would contribute to the overall transparency and fairness of the electoral system by ensuring accuracy and integrity in voter data. The advancement of the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill to its Second Reading marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s electoral reform efforts. If passed into law, it has the potential to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in the country’s electoral processes.

Subsidy Removal: Reps approve Tinubu’s N500bn palliative

A bill for an Act to authorise the issuance of N500 billion from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations for the provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by the Executive, was presented on the floor of the house by the Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere at Thursday’s plenary. Leading the debate, Ihonvbere said that at a certain point, each nation took time out to reflect on its programmes and policies. He said that many members of the parliament had moved motion for the provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. The rep said that the request of the executive was a clear indication that “we have a government that listens”. Ihonvbere saith that the bill, when passed into law, would provide support for Nigerians to weather the effect. He urged members to support the passage of the request in the spirit of collaboration with the executive. Ihonvbere said that everyone was feeling the effect of subsidy removal, saying that Nigerians were waiting to see how the matter would be handled and if the parliament had the interest of the people at heart. Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC-Borno) commended the executive for taking the bull by the horns and for taking a painful decision to remove the subsidy in the interest of Nigerians. The lawmaker said that it was one to provide funds and another for the funds to be used for the purpose it was meant. He said that budget and supplementary budget were passed yearly but it was not often used for the purpose intended. Jaha said that as soon as it e passed, the house should ensure the money was used and implemented accordingly, saying that all 360 constituencies should no longer feel the effect of the subsidy removal. Rep. Akin Adeyemi (APC-Oyo) said that government had done the needful and that the monster subsidy was gone. “We should not only be supporting this initiative but also be looking at providing additional funds to cushion the effect of the removal.” He commended labour unions and opposition parties for understanding with the government on the matter. Rep. Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau) said it was not in doubt that Nigerians were going through unbearing hardship and commended the president for the initiative. “But what is the nature of the palliatives, how will the 500 billion be spent. “I move we set up an ad hoc committee to recommend the nature of the palliative and how it should be implemented,” she said. Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Oyo) said that the parliament should do its job and ensure proper oversight when the funds were released. Also, Rep. Regina Akume (APC-Benue) said that there was need for the house to form an ad hoc committee to oversight it.  “I have confidence in Presidnet Bola Tinubu, he has demonstrated capacity over time.” Rep. Sani Madaki (APC-Kano State) commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative. He said he had called for palliatives and the president had acted, urging the parliament to do the needful for constituents to enjoy the outcome. The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, said the yardstick to measure any government was its responsiveness. He commended the president for being responsive, saying that the house would want to see a palliative that would make a possible impact. “We want living wage, not minimum wage; do not suffocate us, school fees are high, the electricity bill is high, and so on. “We do not want to see N5,000 handout to Nigerians on the street; this is a fast case for the administration and we do not want them to fail,” he said. He, however, urged the house to pass the bill with the speed of light. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, called for voice votes on the bill and members unanimously voted and the bill was passed.