The minister of labour and employment, Simon Lalong, has promised to resolve all pending labour disputes by working closely with the two labour groups – the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
The minister also promised to address with strong determination the new minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
Lalong said this when he resumed office on Monday in Abuja along with the minister of state for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
He said: “On the relationship with the organised Labour, the government through the ministry shall work closely with the NLC, TUC and their affiliates towards not only ensuring that all pending industrial disputes are settled amicably but also addressing with strong determination the new minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
“I use this opportunity to specially convey the appreciation of Mr President to the organised labour and Nigerian workers in general for exercising tremendous understanding and patience with the current situation. The Government does not take this for granted and Mr. President has directed that we move on with negotiations to arrive at amicable resolutions that will make our workers overcome the current pains.
“Overall, the Ministry shall leverage on Technology, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, agriculture among others to open up more employment opportunities for all Nigerians. This is in addition to current Safety Net Jobs and new ones that this government will initiate within the coming weeks and months.”
He said the ministry would unveil detailed plans of President Bola Tinubu’s vision for labour and employment.
Lalong noted: “In the coming weeks, we shall unveil detailed plans of President Tinubu’s vision for Labour and Employment and also spell out the role that the Ministry and its agencies, development partners and Nigerians, in general, will play in actualizing it.
“We shall be engaging all relevant partners and receiving briefings towards a robust performance.”
Lalong said the administration would escalate relations with the private sector, development partners, international agencies, and non-governmental organisations, among others to make sure that unemployment and underemployment were reduced to the barest minimum according to the plan of the Tinubu administration.
He added: “Because of the level of unemployment, underemployment, and challenges associated with the work environment, we have been mandated by Mr President to ensure that Nigerians get decent employment and are adequately remunerated for their labour both in the public and private sectors. We shall not spare any effort to protect the Nigerian worker and guarantee his dignity at all times.”
“Under my stewardship, the ministry of labour and Employment will fulfil its mandate of ensuring decent work for all Nigerians and making sure that our citizens particularly the youth and women get the opportunity to deploy their energy, creativity, talent and gifts to the development of the nation.
“We shall therefore mobilise and deploy all the resources of the Ministry towards ensuring that the matters relating to Labour and Employment are galvanised across relevant MDAs and sectors of the economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. Our workers must get value for their labour and operate in a safe and conducive environment.”
