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By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for third reading the national minimum wage bill that contains N30,000 per month for workers in the country.
This decision was sequel to the consideration by the House on the report by the Yusuf Lasun led ad-hoc committee on national minimum wage.
Speaking on the floor, the ad-hoc committee chairman explained among other recommendations that the bill will be reviewed every five years.
He said if the bill is assented to, it means everybody will be taxed.
The House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila while raising a point of order noted that the bill when assented to by the president be effective after six months.
This attracted reactions from lawmakers like Mr. Nuhu Danburam(APC, Kano). Mr. Danburam in his argument said he see no reason for such. He added that the usual practice is when the president assent a bill, it becomes an act.
To this end, a majority voice vote called by the Speaker however opposed the point of order by the House leader.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Mr. Edward Pwajok and Ahmed Yerima has formally made known their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The trio who represents Bauchi and Plateau States respectively made this known during plenary.
In a separate letter read on the floor of the house, Speaker Dogara and Mr.Yerima said their defection was based on the lack of confidence thier constituents have in the All Progressive Congress.
On his part, Mr. Pwajok who admitted that there was no crisis that have warranted his earlier defection, said he saw the need for his rescinding his decision to return to the party.
After the excitement and pleasantries that the news of defection attracted, an adjournment of the plenary till 19th February which was then approved by all.
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Tags: minimum wage bill