The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was ecstatic on Monday following President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the new national minimum wage into law.
This came as he appealed to those behind the planned protest to refrain from violence, which could destabilise the country, adding, “The right to protest should not be turned into the right to unleash violence.”
Senator Akpabio attributed the prevailing hardship faced by Nigerians to many years of maladministration brought on by previous governments.
The lawmaker was joined by his counterpart Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Jibrin Barau, and other members of the Senate leadership, and Julius Ihonvbere, House Leader, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I’m ecstatic. I’m excited about the Nigerian worker and the national minimum wage amendment is for the whole nation; for the federal government, the states, the local governments, for the private sector, and even for individual employers,” Senator Akpabio said while fielding questions from newsmen moments after their closed door with the cabinet in the state House, Abuja.
“I think this is a great day for the workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage, we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000, now it is N70,000.
“Like I said, this is minimum, this is not maximum. Any employer that has the capacity can pay as much as you want. But no Nigerian worker will offer services and be paid anything less than 70,000 from today. That is the implication of this act. It applies all over the nation.
“And we are excited that this is happening at a time like this through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; a man who cares for the Nigerian workers. And you’ve seen what we are doing in the National Assembly.
“When it came, the entirety of the National Assembly moved and passed the bill in one day out of excitement. We felt that this was not something we could delay. So I think the workers are happy.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to call on those who are attempting to foment trouble; that you have a right to protest. It is your fundamental right. It is there in the constitution.
“But you don’t have a right to destabilise the country. The right to protest should not be turned into the right to unleash violence. It’s very clear that people who are behind this are very amorphous, very faceless.
“So, what it means is people are preparing to loot and go around and do all sorts of things. Where we are today was not caused by one year’s administration.
“It is the outcome of years of insecurity. Many people could not go to farms for almost 10 years, and the President has risen to the occasion.
“Every food item that is coming in now will come in without anything like a restaurant solution. There’s no restriction, bring in food because Nigerians need to eat. And then at the same time, most things are coming in with a lot of waivers.
“So for me, I’m excited that yes, indeed, the government is doing what it should. And we, the leaders in the National Assembly, we are touching our various constituencies.
“My appeal to the Nigerian youth is do not allow any group to mislead you politically. People who probably did not have their fortunes in the 2023 election are thinking they can come through the back door, and that will amount to anarchy.
“Any destruction of any property will cost Nigeria money. We don’t have the money. Instead, let’s put the money into developing you and developing your environment instead of going to rebuild. So, kudos to the Nigerian workers.
On the 2024 budget amendment bill, the President of the Senate stated:
“We have gone very far with it. And I expect that by Wednesday it will be signed.”
