SAYS FG’s POLICIES TARGETING FOOD SECURITY, JOB CREATION POVERTY ALLEVIATION
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to fostering a culture of constructive social dialogue and promoting decent working conditions in Nigeria, ensuring a fair and equitable work environment for Nigerian workers.
This is as she highlighted the federal government’s policies targeting food security, job creation, poverty alleviation, and social cohesion, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”
The Minister made the remarks in her speech at the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, as a response to the Director-General’s report on the renewed social contract, outlining Nigeria’s position on the global agenda for decent work and social justice.
She applauded the Director-General’s office for selecting a timely and relevant theme, which highlights the mutual interdependence between individuals and societies in promoting social unity, economic robustness, and political stability. She observed that this theme aligns perfectly with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, a visionary policy framework designed to transform Nigeria into a premier investment hub on the global stage.
The Minister said: “The agenda is hinged on the Core Pillars ‘4-D Diplomacy Strategy’ centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community. The eight Priority Areas of the Agenda aims to pursue economic prosperity for the country through food security, poverty eradication, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, inclusiveness, improving the security of life and property, rule of law and fight against corruption which will help build a more just and equitable society reminding both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business in line with International Best Practice.
“The Nigerian government has provided enabling environment for social dialogue with the tripartite constituents to advance social justice and has solicited tripartite plus cooperation to align with government’s agenda in the labour sector to promote workers welfare and boost national productivity”
The minister identified the following areas where the government has made giant strides: “Implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme III; Ratification of the 10 ILO Fundamental Conventions and most recently ratified 4 additional Conventions, including Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment;
Revival of the National Labour Advisory Council, Nigeria’s highest tripartite consultative structure;
Tremendous progress in the review of our Labour Law.
“Establishment of Job Centres across the country;
Upgrading Skill Acquisitions Centres across the six geo-political zones; Establishment of Migration Resource Centres, as part of government’s commitment to providing good governance for Labour Migration; Reducing child labour to the barest minimum by promoting universal basic education and encouraging school enrolment of minors, especially for the girl child; Granting direct loans to farmers in the agricultural sector geared towards food security; and
Provision of portable water, energy and massive road infrastructure, just to mention a few.
On new national minimum wage, she said “the Federal Government is currently negotiating through its tripartite committee to review the National Minimum Wage as part of its efforts to promote decent work for workers in both the public and private sectors.
The Minister further showcased Nigeria’s progress in implementing international labour standards, promoting social justice, and boosting national productivity through the recent launch of the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), aimed at creating jobs and equipping youth with entrepreneurship skills.
“The Government also recognise skill acquisition as a viable strategy for youth empowerment and job creation, and has identify the informal sector as the driving force of economic growth in most developing countries of the world. As an intentional strategy towards achieving the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government launched the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) on Thursday 25th April,2024, with the fundamental vision to create jobs by training and equipping 2.5 million persons every year within the next 4 years with requisite entrepreneurship skills”.
“The efforts of government towards promoting entrepreneurship will revamp Nigeria’s economy and reposition it on the path of steady growth, enhance job creation and reduce unemployment and insecurity”, she said.
In her concluding remark, the Minister emphasized the need for global cooperation to address technological challenges and build a more resilient and inclusive society for future generations.
