Labour Minister moves to ratify Maritime Labour Convention (MIC), 2006.

[FMINigeria]

                        Towards ensuring safety and improved wellbeing of Maritime Workers and Seafarers in Nigeria, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu has commenced the process of ratifying the International Labour Organisation's Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC2006), through the special session of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), held in Abuja.

During the session, the Minister commented that the step is another milestone aimed at generating and sustaining industrial peace and harmony which is pivotal for the attainment of the Transformation Agenda of the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He stated, "This meeting marks for us another milestone in our efforts at generating and sustaining industrial peace and harmony so necessary for the attainment of the present Administration's Transformation Agenda".

The occasion also witnessed the inauguration of three Committees of the National Labour Advisory Council charged with different responsibilities. These include:

Committee on the Development of Programmes and Strategies for Mainstreaming the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) into the National Development Agenda, headed by Mr. Mahmud Othman, the term of reference is to recommend programmes and strategies for mainstreaming and recognising the position, relevance and roles of the National Labour Advisory Council into the Transformation Agenda of the present Administration.

Others are the Committee on the Review of Industrial Relations Practice in Nigeria, headed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, with the following as terms of reference: to identify existing weakness and impediments inimical to productive industrial relations practice and make recommendations for their improvements, to identify existing committees of Federal Government dealing with labour issues and recommend their domiciliation in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity among others.

The Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the National Labour Advisory Council headed by Mrs. Theresa Braimah, is charged with the responsibilities of reviewing the present constitution of the NLAC in line with current developments in labour administration and to make recommendation that will transform the NLAC into NEDLAC model of South Africa among others.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Tunji Olaopa represented by a newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Dr. Clement Illoh, expressed optimism on the ability of NLAC to deliberate and advised the Minister of Labour and Productivity on the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 in records time.

According to Dr. Olaopa, "NLAC is veritable machinery which has been deployed successfully in the past in the ratification of ILO Convention by Nigeria.   It is therefore my fervent belief that with the galaxy of skilled and experienced personalities representing the social partners in this meeting, the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Transport will be adequately deliberated upon with a view to recommending to government the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006", he concluded.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[Folami David]

the workers deserve all of that. i support the idea wholeheartedly