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National Assembly Can Only Legislate On Minimum Wage, Not Salaries — Former Minister Fashola

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Nigeria’s former minister of works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, says the national assembly may have unconstitutionally legislated on salaries instead of minimum wage.

Fashola, in an article entitled “Minimum Wage Review – My Takeaway”, said what the constitution provides for to be legislated on in the exclusive-legislative list is the country’s minimum wage.

A person earning a salary is paid a fixed amount over a period of time, while a person earning a wage is paid by the hour.

Recall that the organised labour has recently been demanding an increase in minimum wage of N30,000 owing to the rising inflation that has pushed food prices up.

While the federal government has offered to pay N62,000, labour unions have insisted on N250,000.

Fashola said there is need for the constitution to be amended to allow for the fixing of minimum salaries of workers.

“In my recent monograph, ‘The Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole’, I had made the point at page 89 that the word used in item 34 of the Exclusive Legislative list is minimum wage,” the former minister said.

“It does not talk about salaries. I further stated that ‘…it has also been shown, wages and salaries are different and should not be conflated.’ I posited that ‘…efforts to improve minimum wage must be that and nothing more. It must not translate to a salary overhaul by accident’.

“Therefore, it seems obvious from this definition that by making a law in Section 3(1) of the Minimum Wage Act that 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 while the conversation on minimum wage is being had in 2024 because in Section 3(4), the minimum wage ‘shall be reviewed in line with the provisions of this Act’ which includes Section 3(1) that has prescribed a monthly amount instead of an hourly wage.

“If we follow the proper definition of wages as an hourly rate and apply the global method for computing it, which is to divide the gross annual sum by 52 weeks, and further by 40 hours recommended per week, we will have for Nigeria a minimum wage that is not N30,000 per month, but rather N30,000 X 12 (months) = N36,000 divided by 52 (weeks) = N6,923.07 divided by 40 (hours), which will give a minimum wage of N173.07 per hour.

“What we have done is to erroneously fix monthly minimum salaries as wages, and then effect consequential adjustment for all other SALARY EARNERS, which results in a bloated compensation wage that employees find difficult to meet.”

The former governor of Lagos said both high and low income earners deserve adjustments in their salaries and wages owing to the rising cost of living.

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JUST IN: Fire Guts ETP Section Of Dangote Refinery

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A fire broke out this afternoon at the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) section of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos. Emergency services responded swiftly to contain the incident, and according to initial reports, no injuries have been sustained.

Anthony Chiejina, the group branding and communication officer confirmed the incident in a press statement seen by PorscheClassy media.

The Dangote Refinery is a massive project under construction with a projected refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

 

More to come…

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Olota Of Otta Advocates Cultural Preservation During European Tour, Visits Nigerian Embassy In Rome, Italy [PHOTOS]

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In continuation of the ongoing Europe Tour, His Majesty, Olota of the Paramount and Ancient Ottaland, Awori Kingdom, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege Ph.D, MCIPR, MPRII, FHEA (Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode) was warmly received at the Nigerian Embassy in Rome by a dedicated team led by Her Excellency, Amb. Gwendy OMIJEH, the Charge d’Affairs, along with key officials including M.M. LAWAL, H. KWACHE-ADAMS, G. W. GABKWET, A.O. AHANONU, M.N. TONY-BISONG, and N.J. RIBI.

Welcoming His Majesty, Mrs Gwendy OMIJEH commended Kabiyesi Olota for the diplomatic visit, and for the efforts in promoting culture and traditions. She described the tour “thoughtful”, as it will further integrate subjects living in Rome with their homeland.

During the diplomatic visit to Rome, Italy, His Majesty highlighted the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Awori people. Kabiyesi emphasized the significance of remembering one’s roots and encouraged his subjects to maintain strong ties with their homeland. He urged them to embrace their cultural identity, visit their ancestral land frequently, and actively promote and preserve the rich Awori Cultural Heritage.

Kabiyesi’s message resonates deeply in an era marked by rapid globalization and cultural homogenization. As traditional values and customs face the pressures of modernization, the Olota’s call for cultural preservation serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of heritage and identity.

As the Olota’s message reverberates beyond the confines of the embassy walls, it serves as a beacon of cultural resilience and a call to action for all to cherish, celebrate, and preserve the diverse cultural tapestry that enriches our world.

In his Majesty’s delegation; Alayeluwa Oba Adewunmi Adeniji Odutala (Onibudo of Ayetoro Itele Otta, Awori Kingdom), Chief Olusegun Johnson (Otunba of Otta, Awori Kingdom), Chief Okikiolu Fadayiro (Baamolu of Otta, Awori Kingdom), Prince Adewale Adeyanju (Culture and Tourism Consultant to His Majesty), Prince Adeyemi Sulaimon Olusesi (Principal Secretary to His Majesty & Omotobase of Otta, Awori Kingdom), and many others.

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Sanwo-Olu To Be Decorated As Omo Eko Pataki

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Lagos Sate Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will on Thursday, July 18, 2024 be decorated as Omo Eko Pataki, being the high point of the maiden edition of Eko Mi Award 2024. The hardworking and forward-thinking governor will be decorated by some of the revered custodians of the heritage and culture of Lagos at the Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the organizers of the awards, Eko Mi Awards is going to be an annual event where individuals, groups, organizations and government agencies/parastatals that have contributed to the economic, social and culturally development of the state will be recognized and awarded and the most prestigious category of the award, annually is going to be the decoration of one outstanding individual as the Omo Eko Pataki. The decoration, which will be done by adorning the individual an Aga, the traditional Eyo cap will be performed by the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

The organizers further stated that the choice of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Omo Eko Pataki award at the maiden edition of Eko Mi Awards is informed by the outstanding performance of the governor since his assumption of office in 2019. The footprint of Governor Sanwo-Olu can be felt across the state, especially through the THEMES agenda of his administration that has seen the state seen continued developments in the areas of education, health, housing, education, infrastructure and the environment.

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