As Nigerians mourn the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari at 82, the Director General and CEO of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, said the late statesman’s “progressive labour-friendly policies” and historic posthumous recognition of Chief Moshood Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993, elections, constitute his enduring legacies.
In a statement of Tribute in Ilorin, DG, MINILS listed what he called “evidence/based bagful of President Buhari’s labour friendly records ” to include “improved 2019 Minimum Wage Act from N18,000to N30000, public job retention, non-retrenchment of public service jobs and safeguards of private sector jobs despite the challenges of economic recessions and economic disruptions caused by Covid: 19 pandemic, approved National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission 20 per-cent pay increase for Police Officers, 1000 jobs in each of the 774 local governments, commitment to lift 100 million out of poverty in ten years, mass direct and indirect jobs through state-led interventions championed by monetary (CBN) and fiscal, (Ministry of Finance) authorities in agriculture and industry, bail outs for states governors to meet salaries’ obligations and respect for social dialogue, not labour repression as tool for resolution of work-related disputes.”
According to the Director General, “for the first time in 60 years after independence, former President Buhari accorded labour ministry legitimate recognition with two ministers, who under him in turn commendably intervened” in disputes between the government of Kaduna state under Mallam Nasir El rufai and Nigeria labour Congress ( NLC) among others.
Aremu praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consolidating on the progressive traditions of the APC led Buhari- progressive labour policies in the last two years with renewed Hope Agenda that has also commendably raised minimum wage to unprecedented N70,000.
“Former President Buhari, just like President Bola Tinubu, rightly knew that labour creates wealth if properly trained on productivity and motivation,” Aremu remarked, adding that “remembering Buhari amounts to a celebration of progressive politics in this democratic dispensation.”
The Director General prayed that Almighty Allah grant the great statesman eternal forgiveness and rest.
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