Nigeria 64th Independence Day Celebration

MINILS Hails Labour, Government and Employers At Independence, Commends President Tinubu, Labour Minister on Renewed Hope Employment Programme

As Nigerians observe the 64th Independence Day Celebration, stakeholders in the labour market have been urged to further deepen labour education as a necessary requirement for industrial harmony in workplaces to enhance productivity in Nigeria.

In his Independence Day message issued in Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu, the
Director General of the Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies said Nigeria has commendably entrenched robust industrial relations system in line with the core conventions of International labour Organization ( ILO). He said the dramatic growth of labour market institutions since in 1960 such as Micheal Imoudu Institute for Labour studies ( MINILS ), National Productivity Centre (NPC), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), trade unions is a major dividend of independence.
He observed that British colonialism not only denied freedom of association and assembly for workers and workers employers but repressed labour market institutions that allow vibrant collective bargaining and negotiations .
Aremu commended the government, employers and trade unionists which despite the civil war and military meddlesomeness in government have maintained workplace democracy that have among others led to the signing of 6th National minimum wage law since independence.
According to him, the inevitable reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pose challenges for industrial relations adding that there is the need for regular labour education, to maximize benefits and minimize the pains of reforms through social and peaceful dialogue.
The Director General commended the independence broadcast of President Bola Tinubu with respect to the proposed launch of the Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), an initiative of the Minister of labour “that promises creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis while simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.”

“On this auspicious occasion, on behalf of the management and staff of the Micheal ImouduNational Institute for Labour Studies, the only tripartite national labour institute in sub-Saharan West Africa, we acknowledge the immense contributions of Nigerian workers to national development since independence and also express our ability, willingness and readiness to partner with all stakeholders in Nigerian to promote decent work agenda in the country” the statement said.