Labour

FG will work closely with NLC, TUC to resolve pending industrial issues —Lalong

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2 years ago

The newly inaugurated Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has pledged the commitment and willingness of the Federal Government to work with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to resolve all pending industrial issues.

Lalong said this on Monday when he addressed the gathering of staff, heads of parastatals and agencies under his ministry and journalists in Abuja, as he assumed duties as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

The minister, alongside the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said their appointment and assumption of duty as ministers is a call to service.

“We shall do everything within our power to give our best in assisting the president fulfill his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for a better Nigeria. Nigerians have trusted President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima with their mandate and, therefore, expect a better nation where their dreams and aspirations will be fulfilled.

“The president has, in turn, mandated us to handle the very important aspects of labour and employment, which are critical to national development and prosperity.

“The task is certainly enormous but achievable, especially with the abundant human resources Nigeria is endowed with. We, therefore, need your support and understanding to succeed.

“Under my stewardship, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will fulfill its 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, talents 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.

“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 are reduced to the barest minimum according to the plan of the Tinubu administration.”

“On the relationship with the organised labour, the government through the ministry shall work closely with the NLC, TUC and their affiliates towards not only ensuring that all pending industrial disputes are settled amicably, but also addressing with strong determination the new minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.”

He added, “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 actualising it. We shall be engaging all relevant partners and receiving briefings towards a robust performance.”

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