The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill for an act seeking transfer of the National Minimum Wage clause to the concurrent items in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

Sponsor of the constitution amendment Bill, Mr Garba Datti, in presenting the general principles argued that it was intended to amongst other things, transfer the minimum wage prescription from the exclusive legislative list as set out under Part II of the Second Schedule of 1999, Constitution that the move would cure the repeated bickering between organized Labour and the government. 

The lawmaker further argued that even with the national minimum wage law in place, several states have been acting in breach of it; while there has not been any form of sanctions.

Deputy Speaker Idris Wase who doubles as Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee for the review of the constitution argued that the Bill should not be passed on grounds that some state governors may abuse such liberty. 

Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson in a similar vein, while citing the United States as an example of where different minimum wages for public servants apply across the states, said there could be no better time than now to pass the proposed amendment.

Several other members spoke in support of the Bill, a majority voted in favour of its second reading, before Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila referred it to the constitution review committee.