By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Organised labour has made good its threat to picket the National Assembly as part of its nationwide protest against the proposed amendment seeking to move the issue of minimum wage from the Exclusive list to Concurrent list.
As early as 7.30 am Wednesday, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FEC) from where they later marched to the junction linking the Three Arms Zone.
The protest caused gridlock as motorists trying to get to the Aso Villa, Federal Secretariat, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court could not access the road.
By Udora Orizu
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Wednesday protested at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding that the lawmakers should kill the Bill seeking to move the minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative list to the Concurrent list to allow states determine minimum wage based on capacity.
The angry protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, ”On National Minimum Wage We Stand”, “Kill the Bill”, “No To Minimum Wage on Concurrent List, Yes To Minimum Wage on Exclusive List” and “Shame on Garba Datti.”
The House of Representatives had on February 23, despite opposing views from some lawmakers passed for second reading a Bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to allow states determine minimum wage.