Labour Minister inaugurates governing boards of NDE, NPC, MINILS

The Minister of Labour and Employment,  Chris Ngige last Friday inaugurated the boards of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS), National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the National Productivity Centre (NPC); with a stern warning to the chairmen and members of the boards to steer clear of corruption.

He, however, assured the chairmen and  members of the boards that though, it may be coming too late, they would use six years in their new positions.

The minister stated that their inauguration, two years into the tenure of the present government, demonstrates government commitment to an all inclusive governance as well as the provision of effective service delivery to Nigerian people.

He reminded them that the parastatals are established to discharge their functions and attain objectives more speedily outside the civil service structure and procedures.

He pointed out that they are granted a measure of independence to enable them achieve the purpose for which they are set up, subject to compliance with government policies.

Ngige said the boards are responsible for setting out economic, financial, operational and administrative policies programmes and targets in line with the overall objectives as provided by the government

He, therefore pointed out that the boards have responsibility for meeting target, contained any adverse deviations, while the supervising management should ensure that the targets are achieved.

More importantly, he warned the board chairmen and members against corruption, saying, “it is pertinent to remind you at this juncture that this administration has zero tolerance for corruption. It will, therefore, be irregular and indeed unacceptable for you to ask your management to provide fringe benefits that you are not entitled to.”

He assured all the chairmen and members of the board that they are using six years in their various positions, and should be looking forward to serve till 2023.

Ngige emphasized on this after the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Sen. Ezenwa Oyebuchi, who is a PDP senator, lamented that their appointment was coming rather too late, for a government that has come to power over two years ago.

Onyebuchi has called on the newly appointed boards to hit the ground running, because their appointment was coming too late, less than two years to the end of the government tenure.

According to Oyebuchi, “you must justify the trust and confidence repose in you and the only way you can do that is to ensure that the right things are done, and ensuring you move the parastatals forward.

“On our part as the legislator, we will ensure we do due diligent in our oversight responsibility to make sure that the right things are done. We will also partner with you to carry out our responsibilities without fear or favour.”

In his speech, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, said the inauguration must be recognised as a call to service.

Ocheni, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, charged the boards to bring in their wealth of experience and support policies of the present administration.

The Chairman, NPC board, Mr Eyo Ekpo, who spoke on behalf of the boards, pledged that they would adhere strictly to the rules and regulations of the boards.