The Federal Government has put the machinery in motion to register more Employers Associations, besides the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige stated this Thursday at the 2020 Fellow’s Award and the Human Resources (HR) Recognition Ceremonies of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) in Abuja.
Ngige explained that the government wants more employers association as a way of promoting the diversification of the economy and preparation for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
According to the Minister, the government will need to liberalise and accommodate especially Federations for the different Agriculture and Agro-allied industries employers as well as Mines, Indigenous Oil and Gas employers.
Ngige said, “Government has decided to widen the scope of private sector participation in the Human Resource Management aspect of the Public Sector in conformity with Section 40 of the Nigerian constitution and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles on the Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining.
“Therefore, we have put machinery in motion to register new Employers Federations to cover the entire country, besides NECA, which is still circumscribed to Lagos area.
“My ministry will come out with the guidelines for this in the next few weeks as a way of helping the diversification efforts of the government and to prepare us for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) signed by the Government of Nigeria for free trade and exchange of goods within the African continent.”
Ngige used the opportunity to re-affirm the commitment of the Buhari administration to worker’s welfare and human capital development, in spite of the country’s economic challenges.
He said for Nigeria to surmount all her present challenges, she deserves our best efforts and we should all rise and collectively build a more resilient, stronger and better economy in other to restore hope and build a more prosperous nation.
The Minister urged CIMPN not to relent in its efforts at developing the country’s enormous human capital both in the public and private sector.
Earlier, the President of CIPMN, Wale Adeniran stated that the institute chose Ngige as keynote speaker in recognition of his competence and frontline position in managing labour and industrial relations in the country.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Icon of Human Resources Award to Dr Folasade Yemi Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation by Ngige on behalf of the institute.
Charles Akpan
Deputy Director/Head (Press and Public Relations)
30th April, 2021
