By Chris Udochukwu
ABUJA FCT – The Nigerian Senate and the National Council for Women Society ( NCWS), have sought for inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Scheme .
Call for inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum wage , came from both institutions at the National Assembly in Abuja during public hearing on a bill seeking for an Act to provide for Domestication and Registration of domestic workers and Employers in Nigeria ,
The public hearing on the bill sponsored by Senator Babangida Hussaini ( APC Jigawa North West) , was organized by the Senate Committee on Employment , Labour and Productivity chaired by Senator Diket Plang ( APC Plateau Central) .
Senate’s call for inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum Wage Scheme, specially came from Senator Osita Izunaso ( APC Imo West), during his remarks at the public hearing.
He said: ” As a member of this committee, I feel strongly that part of the provisions to be included in this bill, is to include the domestic workers, be it house maid or servants in the proposed N70, 000 National Minimum wage law.
“As N70, 000 is being planned to be the least wage for the lowest public workers, so should be the case for least domestic workers.
“We are going to put it in the bill for implementation by all employers”.
He however suggested that instead of domestication and protection of domestic workers and employers, the intendment of the bill should be changed to registration and protection of domestic workers and their employers.
In a similar call, the Acting National President of NCWS, Mrs Geraldeen Etuk, argued for inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed National Minimum Wage law.
However during interview at the sideline of the event, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Babangida Hussaini said though he was elated by the general support the bill got from the various stakeholders, from the Minister of Labour to other relevant stakeholders but practical implementation of the additional scope of inclusion of domestic workers in the national minimum wage is what is somewhat doubtful.
“There is no point making a law that cannot be implemented but I’m happy that the generality of stakeholders at the public hearing, supported the bill and by extension, the proposed law.
Earlier in his remarks during the session, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Diket Plang, said an agency will surely be set up for implementation of the proposed law, but the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, will drive the operation from the onset.
