By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State has lampooned the state government for allegedly violating the National Minimum Wage Act of 2019, saying that it is giving the government seven days’ ultimatum to send a supplementary appropriation to the State House of Assembly.
The party at a press conference in Bauchi Thursday jointly led by its state chairman, Barr. Ahmad Umar Faruk and the Secretary, Kala Ibrahim, accused the government for being indifferent to workers and the service.
They recalled that Governor Bala Mohammed recently signed into law the 2022 Bauchi State Appropriation Act, but did not synchronize it with the requirement of the National Minimum Wage Act of 2019.
The Bauchi PRP captains reminded the government about section 3(1) of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 which mandated all employees of labour, including all state governments to pay a minimum of N30,000 per month to every employer under its establishment.
The party therefore wondered why the Bauchi State government has not complied with the requirements nor implemented the minimum wage as required by the Act.
“It will interest you to know that Bauchi State has been running its budget since the coming into force of this Act without any appropriation for the minimum wage requirement. This is total illegal, null and void”, PRP said.
It added, “One wonders where the Labour leaders are, that pride themselves as the protectors of Nigerian workers. We view their silence as compromise and charge them to wake up to their responsibility before it is too late to cry”.
According to the party, If the attitude of the union leaders in the state looks more of a compromise, that of the State Legislators who symbolize the difference between democracy and military rule, is the least despicable, stressing “These are gentleman supposedly who are not only closer to the grassroots, but who are the custodian of the constitution”.
The party explained that Section 4(6) of the constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended vested power on the legislators to make laws for the peace, order and good governance, yet they have woefully failed to make law that is for the advantage of civil servants.
The PRP therefore, called on other political parties, civil society organizations, religious leaders and the media to join the party in ensuring that justice is done and correct the anomaly.
