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Tag: Sen. Chris Ngige

  • May Day: Buhari committed to workers’ welfare – Ngige

    May Day: Buhari committed to workers’ welfare – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has saluted the resilience of the Nigerian workers and hope for a better future in the face of the current economic challenges facing the country, assuring them of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to enhancing their welfare.

    The Minister said the President was doing everything humanly possible to improve the welfare of the Nigerian worker and has put in place several programmes to actualise that.

    In a message to the Nigerian workers as part of the 2017 May Day celebration signed by the Deputy Director, Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookere, the Minister fraternized with Nigerian workers as they celebrate the Workers’ Day, a day that has its origin in the historical struggles of workers and trade unions in their efforts to win fair employment standards and more importantly, to establish a culture of human and workers’ rights.

    According to him, “The Federal Government is not unaware of the economic challenges facing Nigerian workers in the public, the private and informal sector of the economy. We appreciate your resilience and hope for better days ahead.”

    While acknowledging the contributions of the Nigerian workers to national development, the Minister emphasised the commitment of the present administration to the enhancement of workers welfare.

    “May I use this occasion to appreciate Nigerian workers for their contributions to national development, unequivocal solidarity to the Change Agenda and the fight against corruption of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    “Mr. President is committed to the enhancement of workers’ welfare, through programmes like the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme (FISH), creation of enabling environment to stimulate the economy with the aim of improving the social-economic wellbeing of Nigeria in all sectors of the economy.”

    While soliciting continued support of the Nigerian workers to the Change Agenda, especially in the fight against corruption, Ngige said “As we celebrate today, I urge Nigerian workers not to relent in their support to the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Buhari committed to growing Nigerian economy – Ngige

    Buhari committed to growing Nigerian economy – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was irrevocably committed to growing the Nigerian economy through strategic initiatives that engage the nation’s huge population as a fulcrum.

    Speaking at the on-going 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment in Algiers, Algeria, Ngige said the recently released Medium Term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is a paradigm shift in this direction.

    He said the Buhari administration has demonstrated its capacity to exploit our huge population for wealth creation and economic growth, which explains the capacity shown so far for an early exit from the current economic recession.

    He said: “Our shift is the engagement of our large population in well-articulated diversification programme which has shifted attention to agriculture and mining, in a process intended to be driven by diverse skills acquisition and subsequent job creation”.

    Presenting Nigeria’s position entitled “Investment in Employment and Social security For Harnessing Demographic Dividend” Ngige said Nigeria was resolute in exploiting the untapped potentials of huge   population to grow the economy through dynamic micro-economic policies.

    According to him, “The focus of the present administration in Nigeria is to invest in our huge population through massive job creation, youth empowerment, social inclusion and strengthening of our educational and health system so as to achieve macro-economic stability and diversification.

    “This is a pathway to building a global competitive economy that can stimulate private sector investments, infrastructural renewal, a major pathway to spend out of recession and improved business environment”.

    He disclosed that concerted efforts were being made to increase access to decent work for Nigerians through the implementation of National Policy on Employment whose document was reviewed in 2016 while creating job and skills acquisition centres which targets the 774 Local Government Areas as operational base.

    The Minister said 15 obsolete and retrogressive labour laws some of which date back to the colonial era have been sent to the National Assembly for review.

    The Minister enumerated other government efforts towards exploiting Nigeria’s huge population for jobs and skills development to include a nation-wide stop-gap jobs for unskilled persons through interventionist schemes in agriculture and mining, skills development and competency upgrade, reduction of miss-match between graduate skills and demands in modern labour market as well as the N-power programme, noting that women constitute a large percent  of the beneficiaries of these different programmes.

    On Social security, the Minister said that beyond a National Policy on Social Protection and Social Security which was conceived to drive universal human rights, inclusiveness and wealth re-distribution, the National Social Insurance Trust Fund, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Pension Commission and National Social Investment Programmes were core government agencies effectively providing social protection for vulnerable persons within their respective purviews.

     

     

  • Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has called for synergy among Federal Government agencies in charge of skill acquisition and vocational training to ensure the full realization of the government objective on job creation.

    Senator Ngige said vocational training was the key to unlocking the potentials of Nigerian youths and stemming the tide of unemployment in the country.

    The Minister spoke at the graduation ceremony of Ganduje Auto-Mechanic Training and Empowerment Scheme as well as the training of Kano Zonal Staff and Management of parastatals under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano.

    He said; “Training of youths in vocational trade is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s cardinal objective on youth entrepreneurship and job creation. We have relentlessly been pursuing this in order to fully tap into the elastic opportunities provided by investments in blue collar jobs.

    He challenged Nigerian youths to key into the various vocational training programmes of the Federal Government such as the N-Power initiative as well as other artisan and craftsmen training of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment offered by the Specialized Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Centres.

    According to him, the “Federal Government N-Power Build is an initiative under the N-power job creation scheme planned to develop workforce for a wide range of artisanal jobs in the Construction and housing industry.

    “This would impact on other economic sectors by building the capacity of a critical mass of young Nigerians interested in the construction and housing industry leading to efficient service delivery and increase the number of available job opportunities, reduce unemployment, improve incomes level, poverty reduction and economic vulnerability of unemployed Nigerians.”

    Inspecting an under-utilized facilities at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano, Sen. Ngige described the situation as antithetical to the change Agenda of the present administration and urged the Kano State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Iliyasu Ahmed to urgently exploit the training capacity at the centre for the benefits of the teaming Kano youths

    “The essence of inter-agency collaboration especially when they are offering the same service is utmost in achieving the purpose for which government created such agencies.  

    “The NDE office in Kano is poorly equipped, though we are planning to do something urgent about this, but here we are amidst expansive facilities at the ITF. A situation where the NDE in the same city cannot take a full advantage of this is not excusable.

    “All the skills acquisition centres across the Federation owned by the states and Federal government must work in mutual collaboration so as to be on the same page in terms of quality of skills, certificates awarded, as well as enable them share in the benefits of inter-agency cooperation. I therefore, expect that in the next few months, I would have gotten a full report on the number of trainees the NDE has brought for different training programmes here.” 

    At the zonal office of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Kano, the Minister frowned at the contributions from the zone comprising Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, saying it was grossly below its potential.

     He urged the management and staff to be alive to their responsibilities. 

    Placed fourth out of the six zones in the country and with a contribution of about 160 million in 2016, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the development, insisting the zone could do much better.

    The Minister charged the agency to reach out to the public, enroll more agencies and companies so as to enable workers benefit from the provisions of the Compensation Act while pledging the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of Nigerian workers.  

  • FG pledges to enhance skills of vulcanizers

    The Federal Government on Wednesday pledged to enhance skills of vulcanizers across the country.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this when officials of the Association of Vulcanizers in Nigeria, Abuja Chapter, led by the Secretary-General, Malam Jammiu Moshood, visited him in his office.

    Ngige said that the capacity building has become imperative as the Federal Government was trying as much as possible to equip workers in the informal sector.

    “ The vulcanizers are very important people, because you have a skill which is a profession and government wants to accord you a major degree of recognition.

    “You have the trade and skill to train others and that is why I asked you people to come, let us brainstorm, vulcanizing is an employment which you can use to assist government in job creation.

    “ That is having apprentices and giving your apprentices certificates of discharged, why should we not partner with your association,‘’ he said.

    The minister said that the Department of Skill and Development in the ministry and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) that handle vocational skill enhancement would ensure that that the necessary training was provided.

    He noted that government has eight specialised skill centres in Lagos, Bauchi, Kaduna, Warri, Lafia, Calabar, Ibadan and Enugu.

    “Your members can go there and get advanced skills in vulcanizing and also get their certification in the Trade Test 1, 2 and 3 certificates.

    “So, let your members avail themselves to this particular extra training under the association and I assure you that we will give your members the training free of charge, ‘’Ngige said.

    He also said that the ministry would write to the Federal Road Safety Commission to train members of the association on safety measures that goes with the tyres.

    He added that the ministry will partner with the association in providing tools, soft loans from the NDE and also ensure that they participate in relevant workshops.

    Earlier, Malam Moshood called on the minister to provide the association with training and equipment for the proper maintenance of vehicle tyres.

    “We vulcanizers lack skills and equipment and we are deficient in understanding and repairing of modern vehicle tyre, wheel balancing and alignment.

    “We hereby make a passionate appeal that you should use your good offices to organise training programme, direct access to modern equipment, soft loans and among others,‘’ he said.

    Moshood stressed the need to improve the welfare and skills of the members.

  • Minimum Wage: FG refutes NLC accusation on constitution of committee

    Minimum Wage: FG refutes NLC accusation on constitution of committee

    The Federal Government on Friday refuted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) accusation of foot-dragging to constitute a tripartite committee which is expected to deliberate on the proposed N56,000 minimum wage for workers in the country.

    Sen Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

    Ngige said his attention had been drawn to publications in some section of the media, alleging the Federal Government of intentionally stalling the process of constituting a tripartite committee for the minimum wage.

    “The above statement is false and misleading as the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of the Nigerian workforce by holding series of meetings with stakeholders on the subject matter.

    “The final meeting of the technical committee on new minimum wage was slated for 23rd February 2017 but could not hold as scheduled.

    “The Nigerian Labour Congress and its Trade Union Congress counterpart requested for a postponement of the meeting.

    “This was in order to attend the delegate conference of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction/ Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), at Asaba Delta State, ‘’he said.

    He said that in a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment, a new date for the meeting of the technical committee on minimum wage has been scheduled for March 14 by 2:00 pm at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    The minister said that the new date had been communicated to both the government and worker’s representatives of the technical committee.

    Ngige, therefore, said the allegation as ascribed to the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, was `”mischievous and unfounded”.

    “The NLC President is fully aware of the rescheduled meeting and the reason for the postponement of the earlier meeting which was at the instance of labour unions,” he added

  • Job centres to be created in 774 LGAs – Ngige

    Job centres to be created in 774 LGAs – Ngige

    The Minster of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has said that the Federal Government will create job centres in all the 774 Local Government Areas, next year.

    Ngige disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while feeding questions from youths at a Special Town Hall Meeting organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

    The minister said the decision is to reduce the increasing rate of unemployment by ensuring that youths are fixed in any vacancies in public and private sectors.

    Ngige said the centres would serve the purposes of registering all unemployed youths in every locality and ensuring that those interested in agriculture will be trained on entrepreneurial skills among others.
    He assured that his ministry would not relent in its efforts at ensuring active engagement of youths in the developmental agenda of the present administration.

    The minister said that the recruitment of 10,000 youths into the Police Force and many others into the military and para-military agencies was adopted to put smiles on the faces of the youth.

    “We are actually trying to bring the youth out so that they do not feel government have abandoned them. But not everybody will get white collar jobs.

    “Agriculture is the main place the young should go into now.

    “Even at those job centres, we are going to register those who want to go into agriculture and give them what we called entrepreneurship training.

    “This will enable them to fit in immediately.

    “The same goes for the miners, those that want to go into mining will register their location and we will capture them and fix them in nearest mining point in the Local Government,’’ he said.

    The minister assured that government will not rest on its oars in making life easy for the youths.

  • Buhari committed to safe and healthy work place – Ngige

    Buhari committed to safe and healthy work place – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has affirmed the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to providing safe and healthy working environment that will stimulate decent working conditions for Nigerian workforce.

    Represented by the Director of Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku at the validation of the draft National Occupational Safety and Health Profile, the minister said the government was aware of the fact that a safe and healthy worker is an asset to his or her employer and the nation.

    He said the Federal Government will continue to take necessary steps to add value and strengthens policies and programmes aimed at providing safe and healthy working environment and stimulate fair working conditions for all workers.

    The Minister emphasized that a well-defined and popular profile document for the promotion of social dialogue in occupational safety and health is essential for effective consultations and collaboration for a robust safety and health culture.

    According to him, the validation of the Draft National Occupational Safety and Health Profile will be a catalyst to the nation’s drive to adopt international best practices in the promotion of preventive occupational safety and health culture.

    Country Director of International Labour Organisation, Demmis Zulu said that the ILO was committed to the development and preventive of OSH strategies which aimed to protect and promote workers’ health and wellbeing.

    Zulu said: “It goes without saying that the whole issue of National Health and Safety is paramount and needs to be given the seriousness, importance and priority it deserves.

    “For instance, there are quite a number of incidents and accidents in different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, particularly, in both the manufacturing and the construction sector. Workers who are affected by these incidents and accidents, due to lack of adherence to the minimum standards of occupational health and safety, are those between the ages of 18 and 30”.

    He added that the document would ensure that the manufacturing and construction sectors, among others, improve their working condition and environments.

  • FG appeal to ASUU to shelve warning strike

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to rescind its decision to embark on a nationwide warning strike from Wednesday.

    The Minister said in a statement Tuesday night that the union should give the Buhari administration an opportunity to discuss all contending issues arising from the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) it reached with the past administration.

    The Minister however said that “the claims of nationwide consultations by ASUU cannot be true as the Ministry of Labour and Employment which is the chief conciliator of industrial relations disputes is yet to receive a direct petition from ASUU against the Federal Government who is the jurisdictional employer”.

    The statement signed by the Deputy Director Press, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowokere emphasized the need for proper re-negotiation of  the Collective Bargaining Agreement which ASUU reached with the previous administrations through a clear channel of social dialogue, starting with its immediate employer, the Ministry of Education, and the Labour Ministry.

    It explained that in view of the prevailing circumstances, the issuance of warning strike by ASUU was unconstitutional as the body was yet to exhaust the conflict resolution mechanisms clearly mapped out in the labour laws.

    The Minister therefore appealed to ASUU to give the present administration the opportunity to fully address its grievances which stemmed from the inactions of the past administration.

  • FG receives 800,000 applications for n-power jobs

    FG receives 800,000 applications for n-power jobs

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said on Monday that the Federal Government had received 800,000 applications for the 500,000 jobs promised the youth.

    Speaking at the 5th Town Hall Meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information in Enugu on Monday, Ngige advised the people of the South East to explore the opportunity by registering on the web portal.

    He said that the jobs were mainly for teaching and skills acquisition as promised by the APC government.

    He said that the administration had a good agenda for the unemployed youths irrespective of the current challenges facing it.

    The minister said that 100,000 out of the 500,000 to be employed would be trained as agricultural extension workers and deployed to rural areas to assist the farmers with improved method of farming through the partnership of the ministry of agriculture.

    “I want our graduates to register so that they will not say that they are marginalised when people that registered are selected,” he said.

    He urged the governors and local government chairmen in the South East to assist their youths to print the forms as many expressed difficulty in accessing the portal.

    Ngige regretted that youths neglected skills acquisition to chase white collar jobs that were not in existence, adding that most skilled jobs were being done by Ghanaians and people from other neighboring countries.

    “If our youths had acquired skills, they would be self employed and reliant and shun Boko Haram, IPOB and Avengers,” the minister said.

    He described Igbo youths as enterprising and hardworking and could survive without depending on the government but had neglected their values.

    The minister explained that the current economic hardship the country faced was because the past government neglected agriculture and failed to save for the rainy day.

     

    He admonished the Igbo to come out of the “persecution syndrome,’’ saying that the APC-led government was not marginalising any section of the country.

  • Ngige, Kachikwu to meet with PENGASSAN over planned strike

    Ngige, Kachikwu to meet with PENGASSAN over planned strike

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, is to meet with representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday, a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja said.

    The statement, signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, said that the “crucial meeting’’ was being convened to find a lasting solution to the lingering problems in the oil and gas sector.

    It said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, would also participate in in the dialogue scheduled for 10 a.m. in Abuja.

    NAN reports that PENGASSAN has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike beginning from Thursday over some issues, including the alleged mass sack of its members by various oil and gas companies.