The Federal Government is committed to building National Productivity in a sustainable and competitive manner.
The Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, stated this at a Two-Day Stakeholders Workshop on the review of the National Policy on Productivity (NPP).
According to the Minster who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Yerima P. Tarfa, “our national aspirations and goals of becoming one of the fastest growing economies in the world cannot be realized without creating a national productivity consciousness in all the key sectors of our national economy”.
The Honourable Minister informed stakeholders that the present Administration under His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, is committed and has demonstrated its determination to bequeath an enviable economy that will support national development and citizen’ growth aspirations.
Ngige said, “this is amplified in the Administration’s cardinal programme of lifting one hundred million (100 million) Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten (10) years”.
Ngige advised the participants to take into consideration the aftermaths of Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it has thrown up as well as options that can act as shock-absorbers for containing similar pandemics in the future.
The Minister further stated that part of the lessons of Covid-19 pandemic is that, nations should start learning how to be less dependent on other countries for their survival. The “new normal calls for a more pragmatic way of stimulating growth through productivity imperatives that will drive the national economy for sustainable development”, he said.
The Minister deeply appreciates the consistent support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in all “our policy development/review processes”.
In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Employment, Dr. Yerima Peter Tarfa, who was represented by the Director, Productivity Measurement and Labour Standard, Dan Neburagho said, one of the objectives of the review process is to develop productivity mindset of the citizenry and institutionalize national productivity culture through hard work, creativity and innovation.
Participants at the workshop were Director General, National Productivity Center, Dr. Kashim Akor, Director General, Micheal Imodu Institute of Labour Studies, S. I. Alabi, Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, representatives of Trade Union Congress, Sunday Sialako and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) among others.
