Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, has denied recent speculations that the National Assembly’s Upper Chamber is considering a clause to seize funds from states and local councils in the forthcoming New Minimum Wage Bill. The rumor emerged after a report claimed federal lawmakers were contemplating such a clause, sparking widespread concern among stakeholders.
Adaramodu issued a formal statement from Abuja on Saturday, dismissing the allegations as unfounded. He clarified, “Mr. President in his national broadcast on Democracy Day only informed Nigerians that he would soon send the New Minimum Wage Bill to us. No one among us, not even the Senate President, knows the content of the Bill. How can we take a position on a document that we haven’t even sighted?”
He emphasized that Nigeria operates as a federation with autonomous sub-national governments. Adaramodu criticized the misleading headline by The Punch Newspaper, which suggested that allocations to states and local councils would be seized, labeling it as false. He pointed out that his interview was reported accurately by other newspapers and questioned why The Punch chose to misrepresent his words.
Adaramodu reiterated that the Senate is still awaiting the Executive Bill and that it will go through all legislative stages before becoming law, which will then specify any sanctions.