(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Minister-of-Labour-Productivity-preseting-at-the-Ministerila-Platform-1-300x224.jpg) As the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs took their turn at the on-going Ministerial platform, Thursday, June 6, 2013, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu has identified job creation, occupational safety and social security as needed to sustain the Nigerian economy.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu said the achievements of this Ministry spanned the provision of qualitative labour administration, industrial peace and harmony; the formulation, monitoring and implementation of employment policies for job creation; establishing skills acquisition centers; implementing local content policies and instituting fair labour practices to instituting decent work environments.
Wogu further said that his Ministry championed job creation, rights to work, social protection, dialogue and gender equality in the workplace in the last two years.
The Ministry of Labour, he said, formulated policies, promoted productivity and competitiveness, built consensus on emerging labour issues, engaged in effective factory inspection and pursued social security systems, skills development and certification.
Emeka Wogu revealed that in promoting sustainable peace and industrial harmony, 398 trade disputes were recorded with 301 settled, and 87 cases pending. The Minister added that his Ministry engaged the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU), Petroleum workers (NUPENG/PENGASSAN) which had reasons to protest over unfair labour practices in the oil and gas industry.
The Labour Minister further disclosed that the issue with workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria is being addressed.
The Labour Minister also itemized the review of the national minimum wage Act and the 53% increase in the wages of civil servants as some of his Ministry's achievement in the two years of his being in office.
The Minister projected the creation of about five million jobs annually with the Government's renewed focus on agriculture and food security; commerce and industry; power and energy; works, housing and urban development; petroleum, gas and solid minerals; transportation (land, water and air); information and communication; informal economy; education, health, tourism, culture, entertainment and sports.
Wogu further said that his Ministry has enhanced its productivity measurement strategy to ensure sustainable development by formulating the National Policy on Productivity; and entered into a strategic alliance with UNIDO, UNDP and NIMASA on projects, workshops and seminars for the training of over one million youth corps members between 2009 and 2013.
Also identified amongst his Ministry's achievements in two years were the construction of the National Occupational Health Institute and Laboratories in Umuahia in 2012 and improved training on research, elimination of child labour, ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention as well as networking with seafarers for sustainable development practices.
Wogu disclosed that "The Community Services Scheme for women and youths under SURE-P has benefited 3,000 people in each of the 36 states in the country with a total of 18, 426 participants so far; and added that a proposal for the engagement of 5,000 beneficiaries annually from every state is being planned".
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
I totaLly agree with that because these are what can spring development in this country. Makes sense I must say.