Senate passes new minimum wage bill

From Fred Itua, Abuja

The Senate has passed a new national wage bill into law, after passing the third reading yesterday.

President Bola Tinubu sent in the request yesterday. It was read for the first time, the debate on general principles was done, and a third reading too, all in less than one hour.

The bill seeks to raise the country’s minimum wage from its current N30,000 to N70,000. While leading a debate on the bill, Opeyemi Bamidele, leader of the senate, said N70,000 was agreed upon by all the parties after negotiations.

“This is part of the Federal Government’s short term measure to mitigate the situation in the country,” Bamidele said.

Tahir Monguno, the new chief whip, said there was a need to review the minimum wage to align with economic realities.

“The review of the minimum wage used to be after every five years. It is now every three years. There is a need to review it and bring it in tandem with the realities of society,” he said.

Thereafter, the Senate dissolved into the committee of the whole to approve clauses of the bill.

Last week, Tinubu asked the National Assembly to increase the 2024 appropriation Act by N6.2 trillion. The president said N3.2 trillion is for infrastructure projects while N3 trillion is for recurrent expenditure.

Meanwhile, Akpabio has apologised to his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over comments he made last week, while shutting her down during plenary.

He had told Akpoti-Uduaghan not to speak without him recognising her to do so, reminding her that the Senate was not a nightclub.

His comments elicited mixed reactions on social media, with various women groups calling him out for being sexist and insulting women.

In his apology, which he tendered during yesterday’s plenary, Akpabio said he would never intentionally denigrate any woman.

“I will not intentionally denigrate any woman, and I always pray that God will uplift women. Distinguished Senator Natasha, I want to apologise to you. The interest shown in social media shows that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you. I do not mean any harm. People should concentrate on things that will move this country forward

“Social media handlers should practise with decorum. We won’t, out of anger, regulate social media,” he said.

Akpabio also denied social media posting claiming that he has numerous girlfriends.