Pensioners, First Bank sign pact
THE repositioning of the Ministry of Labour and Employment to meet the challenges of unemployment and maintenance of industrial harmony in the labour sector is one of the critical agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, the of Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has said.
The Minister stated this in Abuja when various departments in the Ministry took turn to brief him and the Minister of State, James Ocholi (SAN), on their activities with a view to providing efficient labour administration in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, after an exhaustive deliberation on the industrial disagreement between First Bank and its pensioners under the auspices Nigeria Union of Pensioners (First Bank unit), both parties agreed to allow the status quo be maintained.
The meeting agreed that all outstanding issues would be forwarded to the incoming management for deliberation and further action and also that the management would communicate its decision on the demands to the union and the Labour and Employment before the end of January 2016.
Senator Ngige affirmed government’s readiness to work with organized labour unions and employers of labour to ensure peaceful industrial milieu, which he believes is pivotal to employment generation as no meaningful development can be achieved in a crisis prone environment.
His words: “Maintenance of industrial peace and harmony and job creation is a cardinal point of this administration and in doing that, we will partner with organized labour unions and employers of labour to ensure the creation of decent employment for teeming Nigerian youths as peaceful industrial relations environment is a prerequisite for productivity and sustainable development and growth.”
The presentations highlighted cardinal areas of opportunities for growth and development in the Ministry for the present administration, which includes the development of National Industrial Relation Policy for investors in Nigeria in acquiring manpower and creating the much needed employment in various sector of the economy, as well as guide against unfair labour practices and enthrone decent work agenda with its attendant national social protection floor in the world of work.
Other areas also comprise strengthening and promotion of programme and policies in sectors with high employment generation potentials and monitor the implementation of the local employment content as well as stimulate private sector participation in the development of programmes and projects that will generate decent jobs.
As part of its job creation effort, the Ministry also plans to leverage on advancement in information communication technology for resuscitation of job centers for job placement, carrier guidance and counseling, facilitating labour mobility and extending Employment Service to every state of the federation.
Towards ensuring successful provision of social security protection to the vulnerable group, the Ministry said it would ensure development of National Policy on Social Security and ratification of Social Security (ILO Convention 102), as well as development of national data bank on social security and cooperative societies.
Maintenance of industrial peace and harmony and job creation is a cardinal point of this administration and in doing that, we will partner with organized labour unions and employers of labour to ensure the creation of decent employment for teeming Nigerian youths as peaceful industrial relations environment is a prerequisite for productivity and sustainable development and growth…As part of its job creation effort, the Ministry also plans to leverage on advancement in information communication technology for resuscitation of job centers for job placement, carrier guidance and counseling, facilitating labour mobility and extending Employment Service to every state of the federation.
