Reps consider N3,500 daily pay for labourers

The House of Representatives is considering a new bill aimed at tackling poverty and promoting sustainable growth in Nigeria’s rural communities.

Known as “The National Integrated Rural Development Bill, 2025,” the proposed law covers all areas officially classified as rural by demographic and economic standards.

Sponsored by Marcus Onobun, who represents Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State, the bill is awaiting its second reading in the lower chamber.

A copy of the draft legislation reveals that it seeks to guarantee wage employment for rural households, providing every adult who takes part in unskilled manual labour with a daily wage of N3,500.

The document also proposes the creation of the National Integrated Rural Development Agency, which will be responsible for overseeing programme implementation, coordinating relevant ministries and stakeholders, monitoring projects, and encouraging innovation and technology in rural development.

Under its employment provisions, the bill mandates that “The Agency shall ensure that every rural household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work through local development projects, is guaranteed a minimum of 100 days of wage employment per fiscal year.”

It further adds in Section 12(2): “Every employed adult household shall be entitled to a daily wage of N3,500 for each day of work.”

Additionally, one-third of the job opportunities created under the initiative are to be reserved for women in rural communities.

Among the bill’s core objectives are reducing poverty, enhancing the quality of life in rural areas, improving agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, promoting community participation in local governance, and expanding access to education, healthcare, and social services.

The legislation also provides for a Governing Council, to be chaired by a presidential appointee recommended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. It further stipulates that revenue generated by the proposed agency “shall be exempted from income tax, and all contributions to the fund of the Agency shall be tax-deductible.”

Explaining the bill’s importance, Onobun said, “It seeks to establish a legal and institutional framework to promote sustainable rural development across the nation by reducing poverty, improving rural infrastructure and enhancing livelihoods through integrated and coordinated efforts.”

The bill is expected to return to the House floor for debate in the coming weeks.

(PUNCH)