President Tinubu Hails Fashola At 61, Amidst Controversy Over Minimum Wage Laws!

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State, on his 61st birthday. Naija News reports that Fashola, who also served as Minister of Works and Housing, marked his birthday on Friday, June 28, 2024……..CONTINUE READING

Fashola, who was Tinubu’s Chief of Staff during his governorship of Lagos State, held numerous significant roles before becoming Governor in 2007. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he served as Minister of Power, Works, and Housing from 2015 to 2019, and as Minister of Works and Housing from 2019 to 2023.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu praised Fashola for his dedicated service to the nation, expressing good wishes for his continued health and vitality. He joined family, friends, and well-wishers in celebrating Fashola’s contributions to Nigeria.

“The President joins family, friends, and well-wishers to celebrate one of Nigeria’s most gifted minds on this special occasion,” the statement read.

We Have Made An Error, Minimum Wage Should Be Paid Hourly – Fashola

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, recently stated that the National Assembly might have acted unconstitutionally by confusing salary for a wage. Fashola explained that the National Assembly has the power to legislate on wages, which are paid hourly, but not on salaries, which are paid monthly.

Speaking on Arise News, Fashola argued that in other jurisdictions, amendments to the minimum wage do not necessarily cause massive distortions across the salary compensation scheme. He referenced the National Minimum Wage Act 2019, which stipulates that the minimum wage is reviewed every five years.

Fashola stated, “The extant law on minimum wage is the National Minimum Wage Act 2019, which provides in Section 3(4) that the national minimum wage expires after five years and shall be reviewed in line with the provisions of this Act. It seems obvious that by making a law in Section 3(1) of the Minimum Wage Act stating the minimum wage of N30,000 shall be paid monthly, the NASS may have acted unconstitutionally by legislating on a salary (monthly payment) when they only have power to legislate on wages, an hourly payment.

“This is important for the ongoing conversation on the minimum wage in 2024, as Section 3(4) specifies that the minimum wage ‘shall be reviewed in line with the provisions of this Act,’ which includes Section 3(1) prescribing a monthly amount instead of an hourly wage.