The newly appointment Minister and Minister of State for Labour and Employment H.E Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has both pledged to protect the Nigerian worker and guarantee his dignity at all times.
The new Ministers stated this on Monday in Abuja during their assumption of duty in the ministry.
According to Onyejeocha, there is a need for everyone to dedicate service to God and humanity while urging Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands to assist President Bola Tinubu fulfill his promises to the electorates. She described the ministry as critical towards ensuring that Nigerian youths are taken off the street which she noted is a call to service.
Lalong in his address, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointing them out of millions of Nigerians.
His words: “This is a call to service, and we shall do everything within our power to give our best in assisting the President fulfill his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria.
Nigerians have trusted President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima with their mandate, and therefore expect a better nation where their dreams and aspirations will be fulfilled.
“The President has, in turn, mandated us to handle the very important aspects of Labour and Employment, which are critical to national development and prosperity.
“The task is certainly enormous but achievable, especially with the abundant human resources Nigeria is endowed with. We therefore need your support and understanding to succeed.
“Under my stewardship, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will fulfill its mandate of ensuring decent work for all Nigerians and making sure that our citizens particularly the youth and women get the opportunity to deploy their energy, creativity, talent and gifts to the development of the nation.
“We shall therefore mobilise and deploy all the resources of the Ministry towards ensuring that the matters relating to Labour and Employment are galvanised across relevant MDAs and sectors of the economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. Our workers must get value for their labour and operate in safe and conducive environment.
“Because of the level of unemployment, underemployment, and challenges associated with the work environment, we have been mandated by Mr. President to ensure that Nigerians get decent employment and are adequately remunerated for their labour both in the public and private sectors. We shall not spare any effort to protect the Nigerian worker and guarantee his dignity at all times.
“This administration will therefore escalate the relations with the private sector, development partners, international agencies, NGOs among others to make sure that unemployment and underemployment is reduced to the barest minimum according to the plan of the Tinubu Administration.
“On the relationship with the organised Labour, the Government through the Ministry shall work closely with the NLC, TUC and their affiliates towards not only ensuring that all pending industrial disputes are settled amicably, but also addressing with strong determination the new minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
“I use this opportunity to specially convey the appreciation of Mr. President to the organised labour and Nigerian workers in general for exercising tremendous understanding and patience with the current situation. The Government does not take this for granted and Mr. President has directed that we move on with negotiations to arrive at amicable resolutions that will make our workers overcome the current pains.
“Overall, the Ministry shall leverage on Technology, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, agriculture among others to open up more employment opportunities for all Nigerians. This is in addition to current Safety Net Jobs and new ones that this Government will initiate within the coming weeks and months.
“In the coming weeks, we shall unveil detailed plans of President Tinubu’s vision for Labour and Employment and also spell out the role that the Ministry and its agencies, development partners and Nigerians in general will play in actualizing it. We shall be engaging all relevant partners and receiving briefings towards a robust performance”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Juliana Adebambo extolled the Sterling and leadership qualities of both Governor Lalong and Hon. Onyejeocha. She described Lalong as an award winner in staff welfare as a former Governor of Plateau State and Onyejeocha for her vibrancy as a member of the House of Representatives. She pledged unalloyed support of the staff to make their job easier. The ceremony was rounded off by a handover note from the acting Permanent Secretary to the two ministers.
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