Former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has called for reasonable adjustments to support Nigerian workers in coping with the increasing cost of living in the country.
In a piece titled “Minimum Wage Review – My Take Away,” Fashola emphasized that both low and high-income earners are impacted by rising costs and deserve fair adjustments. He criticized the exemption of small businesses with fewer than 25 employees from paying the minimum wage, questioning the law’s effectiveness in protecting vulnerable workers. Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also highlighted constitutional concerns, arguing that the National Assembly’s power to set a national minimum wage refers to hourly wages, not monthly salaries. He stressed the need for a review of the minimum wage legislation to ensure it aligns with the constitution and supports workers’ needs.
