The Federal Government is committed to working closely with organised Labour for a peaceful resolution of all pending industrial disputes, as well as addressing the issue of the new national minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, stated this in Abuja when he assumed office, alongside the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Lalong conveyed the appreciation of Mr President to the organised labour and Nigerian workers for their understanding and patience with the current situation.
He described his and the Minister of State’s appointment as a call to service, and solicited the support of the management and staff of the Ministry to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
Lalong promised that they would work towards achieving the Ministry’s 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 safe and conducive environment.”
Lalong stated, “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.
“This administration will therefore escalate the relations with the private sector, development partners, international agencies, NGOs, among others, to make sure that unemployment and underemployment is reduced to the barest minimum according to the plan of the Tinubu Administration.”
Lalong also stated that “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.
“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.”
In her remarks, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, enjoined all Nigerians to support the new administration in achieving its agenda, especially in the Labour and Employment sector.