Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige families, on Thursday said the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has reversed Africa’s economic growth and progress like never before.
The minister lamented that local communities, states and regions have come under unprecedented challenges because of the virus.
Ngige spoke on behalf of Africa during the Constituent’s Day of the Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work, organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Delivering the Nigeria/Africa statement at the summit attended virtually, Ngige noted that the pandemic has been described as one of the most dangerous challenges of “our world by the United Nations because of the severe health and associated socio-economic consequences over the first half of year 2020.”
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In a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, on Thursday, Ngige noted that almost all institutions have been subjected to intense pressures, exposing our common vulnerability and need for one another.
“Africa’s swift response to the pandemic holds lessons for other regions as reported cases is lower than was feared, even as many countries complained of lower testing challenges.
“Our shared challenge now is how to blend proportionally these responses to achieve a better human-centered future of work in line with our Centenary Declaration last year and overcome the long term effects on governments across regions,” he said.
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