The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Nwankwo Alo, has called for a more comprehensive identification of risks associated with the Labour sector, for inclusion in the National Risk Register.
He stated this in Abuja at the flag-off of a workshop on the Development of National Risk Register (NRR) for Nigeria, organized for the staff of the Ministry.
He described as narrow, the Risk proposed by the Risk Assessment Working Group (RAWG) for ownership by the Ministry – Industrial Action Affecting Key Industries and Government-run Services.
Alo said, “It therefore became necessary to develop in-house capacities on the subject for more comprehensive identification of risks associated with the Labour sector”.
Represented by Director, Human Resources and Management, Mr Ajibola Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary said, “Any unidentified risk in this sector would not appear on the Risk Register, and would not be taken into cognizance while planning for avoidance of occurrence or reduction of impact on the nation’s economy.”
According to him, “the National Risk Register is developed and maintained by countries to serve as information and planning tool on risk identification and management, and Nigeria is adopting the process as a best practice.”
Earlier, in a welcome address, Director, Special Duties/Projects, Dr M. E. Nwordu, said the training was aimed at building staff capacity in-house “to enable optimal contribution to the development of the NRR, with the labour sector adequately covered; and to acquire sufficient knowledge to develop Local Risk Register (LRR) for the Ministry at various level.”
The resource persons from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ahmed Abba and JohnBosco Ekeocha, discussed the guiding principles of the National Risks Assessment, which require all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to work together to produce a consistent and coherent assessment of risks that affect Nigeria over the next five years using an agreed process.
The ONSA oversees the National Risks Assessment on behalf of the President and the National Security Council, and organizes a Risks Assessment Working Group (RAWG) made up of representatives from the key MDAs.