The House of Representaives in a plenary session held on Thursday called for an upward review of the current National Minimum wage from N18,000.
According to the lawmakers this review is long overdue since the current minimum wage was implemented in 2011 and present day realities make it difficult to survive on N18,000.
The motion calling for the review was moved by Mr. Peter Akpatason, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Edo State.
According to him, the nation should be “Concerned that a combination of high inflation and weak Naira exchange value have eroded the purchasing power of fixed income earners in the country, who happen to be the breadwinners of millions of jobless and aged dependants.
While debation the motion, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran (APC representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State) said the review was necessary to help in the anti-corruption campaign and to help fight crime
According to her “This N18,000 of today cannot take any worker home, if we really want to fight corruption and crime.
“This motion will reinforce the work of the wage review committee on the need to come up with a minimum wage that workers will appreciate.
“Our own House Committee on Labour and Productivity should also pursue this matter with all the attention that it will require.”
In his ruling, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to ensure implementation of the directive.