Nasarawa Assembly Takes Steps to Resolve NLC/Govt Minimum Wage Dispute
…..Passes 2025 Appropriation Bill into Second Reading
By Yahaya Idris, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has acknowledged the valuable contributions of the state’s workers and urged the State Nigeria Labour Congress to suspend its ongoing strike in order to facilitate further productive negotiations.
The House welcomed the State Government’s commitment to pay and stressed the importance of fostering greater understanding between the parties to enable a peaceful resolution and finally lay the matter to rest.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Jibrin Gwamna, Chief Press Secretary, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, made the appeal during the House proceedings in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital
Speaker Jatau expressed appreciation to the NLC for their positive contributions to the state’s development.
He noted that Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s administration is willing to pay the new minimum wage to workers in the state.
” I want to appeal to NLC to suspend its ongoing strike as negotiations between them and government is ongoing.
” We have the hope and believe that both the State Government and Labour will come to terms for the overall development of the state,” he said.
He said the House is fully concerned about the strike and was unhappy with the development, noting that the House will ensure that it engages the two sides to achieve a peaceful resolution that promotes unity and progress in the State.
In a related development, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed the 2025 budget of N382, 567, 843,592.03 billion into second reading as presented by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, Speaker of the House, announced the passage of the budget into second reading, tagged “Budget of Economic Growth and Stability”, during the House proceedings today.
The Speaker observed that upon the bill becoming law, it would grant the state government the authority to carry out development projects aligned with the people’s needs throughout the state.
He then referred the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for review and reporting back to the House by 16th December, 2024.
Also speaking were Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Minority Leader, Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, and Barr. Esson Mairiga, who stated that the passage of the bill would bring speedy development to the state.
They stated that the budget, once passed, would enhance the standard of living for the state’s residents.
Hon Suleiman Yakubu Azara, Majority Leader of the House, earlier moved a motion for the bill to scale second reading.
Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba, Minority Leader of the House, seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill into second reading.
According to reports, Gov. Sule presented a budget of N382,567,843,592.03 billion to the State Assembly for approval on 29th December, 2024.
Sule disclosed that the total budget for 2025 was composed of N159.97bn (41.82%) for recurrent expenditure and N222.60bn (58.18%) for capital expenditure.
“The budget allocation based on main sectors is as follows: Administrative sector N80.14 billion, Economic Sector N139.84 billion, Law and Justice Sector N10.61 billion, Social Sector N151.97 billion, among others.”
