The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has taken steps to avert the impending nationwide strike scheduled by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)to commence this Wednesday.
In a statement by the Director Press in the Ministry, Mr Olajide Oshundun, the conciliatory meeting was summoned by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige to arrest the dispute between NLC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over the latter’s Naira Redesign Policy, which caused a cash crunch in the country.
The NLC had threatened to embark on the nationwide industrial action, if the cash crunch, fuel scarcity and electricity tariff increase were not addressed.
Following this, Dr Ngige invited the leadership of the Congress and the CBN management to a meeting, to resolve their differences.
The ten-man delegation of the NLC was led by the President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja while the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele was accompanied by two Deputy Governors, Kingsley Obiora, Economic Policy and Ade Shonubi, Organised Private Sector.
Dr Ngige refuted the allegation of the NLC that his Ministry did nothing about the matter.
He said on receiving the letter from NLC, he forwarded same to the CBN Governor before travelling out of the country for an International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Board meeting and directed the Permanent Secretary and Trade Union Services as well as Industrial Relations Department to follow-up.
He explained that his Ministry took the necessary step by sending the letter to CBN Governor who received the letter and assured that action would be taken.
Responding, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefilie said when he received the letter from the Labour Ministry, he called the President of NLC to brief him on steps taken to alleviate the sufferings of the masses and equally made appointment with a fruitful discussions with NLC president.
He said large volume of funds were made available to the deposit money banks and they were directed to open their branches on Saturdays and Sundays which they complied under strict supervision by the CBN.
in his remark, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, agreed they only got a reply to their second letter to the ministry and subsequently received invitation to the meeting.
He affirmed that they no longer envisage any problem, since CBN has started sending cash to the banks and Nigerians were now accessing their money, he acknowledged that meetings has taking place in the spirit of good dialogue.
in his words: “NLC could not have stopped CBN from taking good decisions and implementing them in the interest of the nation, If stakeholders were invited and briefed on the policy, when the people complain, NLC would explain everything to them.
He assured that the National Executive Committee (NEC), of NLC will meet today, where members from states and Local Government Areas are expected to report on availability of money, after which a decision will be taken on the strike.
Unemployment, Labor
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has attributed the problem of unemployment to population growth and economic uncertainties.
The Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, made this known in Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents on the activities of the ministry.
He noted that in reality, chances for white-colour jobs had been shrinking, hence the the implementation of government policies to enable the youth across the country to acquire skills that would ameliorate the situation.
Dr. Ngige explained that the skill acquisition scheme was being executed under the National Action Plan on Employment Creation, NAPEC, which has listed 11 workplaces where trained youth could get jobs or establish their own enterprises.
He argued that despite the daunting challenges facing the country, the administration had demonstrated resilience and doggedness in stabilising the economy.
The Minister called on the private sector to complement efforts of the government in job-creation and financing works and services.
