The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige says the welfare of the Nigerian workers is cardinal to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, hence the unalloyed commitment the Federal Government  has continued demonstrate to the upliftment of the nation’s workforce.

“ The welfare of workers is a cardinal objective of the current administration because the President clearly understands the key role workers play in national development. This is  manifest in the various measures the Federal Government  has taken since 2015  to reposition the workforce.” 

“ We can easily flashback to a number of  bailout funds he gave to states to pay salaries of workers as well as the  unprecedented payment of decades-long arrears of salaries and allowances to the workers in the federal civil service. Let’s not forget that the President  also wasted no time in  giving his assent to the  new National Minimum Wage,”  Ngige said in an address at the Long Service/Merit Award  Ceremony of the Nigerian Ports Authority held over the weekend in Lagos. 

The Minister further said Nigerian pensioners have never been as fairly treated as obtained currently, emphasizing the significant mileage the administration has covered through the Pension Transitional Administrative Directorate(PTAD)

He therefore commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for keying into the core agenda of the Buhari administration in the labour sector by promoting social dialogue and embarking on incentives that ginger industrial productivity. 

“ As the Minister in charge of the interest of workers, I fully appreciate  the importance of  good corporate reward system in the promotion of competition and  excellence, thus, my deep appreciation of today’s event by the Ports Authority. Its potentials in promoting industrial harmony and productivity cannot be over-emphasized. I hence urge other organisations to borrow a leaf.” 

He further congratulated those who were honoured at the event and exhorted workers across the federation to give their best in service, restating the resolve of the Federal Government to safeguard the rights of workers and promote decent work.