Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila has assured that parliament will not do anything to hurt Nigerian workers as it will always work to meet with the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian Masses.
The Speaker who spoke in a meeting with a delegation from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba on Tuesday in Abuja, called on the organised labour to use advocacy and lobbying as tools to register its disagreement with legislative decisions and actions.
Gbajabiamila said these are the most potent tools deployed by labour in advanced democracies to score high points against street protests or the casting of aspersions on members of the Legislature.
He said that the dust being raised by the Minimum Wage Bill could be addressed successfully during the public hearing, where all stakeholders, including labour unions, will have the opportunity to kick against the draft legislation.
Gbajabiamila who maintained that he is a labour-friendly Speaker and represents a labour-friendly House, also explained that the proponents of the bill also address the welfare of workers and seek to resolve the age-long problem of irregular or non-payment of salaries by many states across the country.
The delegation was at the House of Representatives to pay a courtesy visit to the Speaker over the proposed bill that seeks to transfer the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive-Legislative List to the Concurrent List.
The bill has already passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives, leading to a protest match by the organised labour to the National Assembly last Wednesday.
