The Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abdulrahim Ajibola Ibrahim has affirmed that industrial peace and harmony in workplace will enhance productivity in every sphere of the economy.

The Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary stated this recently in Abuja while declaring open a sensitization seminar/interactive session organized by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria Ministry of Labour Unit, with the theme “the impact of workplace conflict on productivity.”

According to him, “we must realize the importance of productivity in every sphere of our economy, hence the need to ensure industrial peace and harmony in our workplace”

Speaking further, Ibrahim added that the management is not resting in ensuring that matters affecting staff welfare are addressed as promotion arrears has been paid while frantic efforts is been made to settle outstanding 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation, adding that newly recruited officers in the ministry have been captured in the integrated payroll personnel information system (IPPIS) and they have started earning salary despite the paucity of funds that has hampered the smooth running of programs and activities of the ministry.

In his words, “we are not resting in ensuring that staff welfare matters are addressed. Permit me to state that so far the ministry has tried in ensure that outstanding claims of the workers are paid. You are aware that the outstanding promotion arrears have been paid while we are making frantic efforts to settle the outstanding 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation. The issue of repatriation claims and burial expenses of members of staff who retired or died have been fully settled, this is a clear departure from the past”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Association Comrade Tommy Etim Okon said, it is the desire of the association to ensure that members are educated through workshops, seminars, conferences, meetings and training programs to enrich their mental capacity and capability. He called on members to utilize the opportunity to enrich themselves and also improve their performance.

Comrade Tommy, however commended the management especially the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Bolaji Adebiyi for ensuring that the ministry and its state offices wear a new look and prompt payment of staff claims as well as training of officers which was not the case in the past.

He thanked the management for the cordial relationship they enjoyed through social dialogue and collective bargaining to press home their demands without mortgaging the rights and privileges of members.