Deepening Democracy, Indispensable for Sustainable Equitable Reforms

Deepening Democracy, Indispensable for Sustainable Equitable Reforms-AREMU DG MINILS

Organized labour, government officials, private employers of labour as well as the civil society stakeholders have been called upon to defend and deepen democratic dispensation as a precondition for sustainable and equitable development.

The call was made by the Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) Comrade Issa Aremu on Friday in Abuja at the Town Hall Engagement on the Imperatives of the Eight (8) Point Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration.

Aremu observed that while Nigeria needed reforms and what he called “total transformation”, deepening democracy in the country is the only guarantee for sustainable Food Security, Poverty Eradication, Growth, and job creation as contained in the Eight Points Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He therefore urged stakeholders in the labour market to take the advantage of atmosphere of freedom of expression, freedom of association to optimize the benefits of reform through constructive social dialogue.

Aremu hailed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in partnership with MINILS for organizing a timely Town Hall meeting on the reform agenda which he said offers platform for a feed back on the impact of reforms on “ease of living as well as ease of doing business”.
While commending the signing into law of the sixth national minimum wage bill, Aremu noted that it was time for the implementation of the new minimum wage consequential adjustments for all categories of workers in both the public and the private sectors of the economy.

He noted that with the support of the Salary and Wages Commission, suggestions on the modalities of payment for the consequential adjustments and minimum wage is achievable.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha emphasised the federal government’s committment to the welfare of workers and nation’s well being by addressing socio economic challenges and evolving solutions to emerging threats.
She also disclosed that the federal government had inaugurated a 16-man committee on the consequential adjustments in salaries in line with provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2024, of N70,000 approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The town Hall meeting which was the first of it’s kind was well attended by Organised Labour leaders, Employers, Civil Society Organisations, NECA, CBN  Governor, Representative of the ILO, Director Generals of Agencies and Parastatals of the FMLE, The Permanent Secretary FMLE, and others.