I have signed minimum wage bill into law – Jonathan

Posted by admin Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Latest Politics, Presidency Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said he had signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law.

The President stated this in Abuja while addressing a combined delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa.

The disclosure finally brought to an end the conflicting reports over the fate of the bill.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, had reportedly claimed the bill had been signed while the Presidency denied the claim, saying that Jonathan was yet to receive the bill from the National Assembly.

But following reports that the President had finally received the bill, Vice-President Namadi Sambo had, during the presidential debate on Monday, said Jonathan had signed the bill into law.

But Sambo did not say when the bill was signed.

Responding to concerns expressed by the leaders of the two labour unions about the fate of the new minimum wage bill during the courtesy call on Tuesday, the President said he had signed the bill into law.

“Ordinarily, such a sensitive bill should have attracted a ceremony with members of the labour movement in attendance, but I did not want the tight schedule of the election campaigns to delay the signing,” he added.

Speaking on the general elections, which begin from Saturday, the President said the elections would be different on the grounds that a lot of work had been done. He also said that each vote would count.

“Before now, our elections have been questionable, but we are determined to conduct free, fair and credible elections that will be accepted in the comity of nations.”

-Punchwp_posts