The governor said a meeting with labour leaders in the state would be held with a view to arriving at a decision favourable to both the government and the workers.

The governor, who made this known during the Year 2024 Worker’s Day celebration and rally, tagged: “People First”, also added that his administration had paid a total of N128.3 billion as pensions and gratuities to both local and state government retirees in the state.

“On minimum wage, your ever responsive administration has done a lot of work, which is aimed at arriving at a position that we can sustain in line with our inclusive style of governance.

“We will soon be calling a meeting with the organized labour leaders to finalize the Ogun State Government Minimum decision,” he said.

Abiodun noted that the state government had paid N2.8 billion as leave bonuses to workers, with the bonus entitlement for the year 2023 and January to March 2024, also paid by his administration.

In addition, N13.4 billion outstanding deductions have been paid to workers.

While also noting that his administration had paid over N8 billion as palliatives to state government workers and pensioners, Abiodun added that car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent by his administration.

Governor Abiodun further added that about 10,982 civil servants had benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1.3 billion disbursed so far.

The governor added that his administration had also consistently provided a N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants for the past nine months, totaling N8 billion.

“We are diligently remitting the backlog of inherited deductions and have consistently paid the agreed outstanding deductions. These deductions that have been paid up to March 2024 have totalled about N13.4billion since I assumed office.

“We continue to pay pension and gratuity to both state and local governments, totalling approximately N118.7billion and N9.6 billion, respectively, for a total of N128.3billion.

“Payment of leave bonuses for all beneficiaries at the state, local and SUBEB amounting to about N2.9 billion.

“It is important to state that bonus entitlement for 2023 and from January to March 2024 have all been paid. Payment on palliatives for state government staff, parastatals, corporations, institutions, and pensioners totalling about N8 billion.

“The car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent, providing enhanced financial support for all civil servants.

“Up to March 2024, about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1 billion disbursed,” he said.

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The governor also added that his administration had continued to pay 40% of the basic salary of workers in the state as Peculiar Allowance, adding that Ogun Teach interns would after two years minimum meritorious service get migrated into the mainstream of the civil service.

“I directed last year that TESCOM and SUBEB engage additional 2000 OgunTEACh interns, increasing the total number of interns engaged to 4,000 out of 5000 target …I directed that 1000 of the interns that have served more than two years and have been evaluated and found worthy be absorbed into mainstream civil service.

“I have now decided to turn this into a policy going forward, Ogun TeacH interns will now after 2 years minimum meritorious service and passing evaluation will be migrated into mainstream civil service,” he said.

While noting that he had directed the Head of Service to start the process of appointing Principal Generals to fill the vacant offices, Governor Abiodun said that his administration had updated and reviewed the Public Service Rules and Financial Instructions, the first overhaul in over two decades.

Governor Abiodun also said that his administration had expanded its health insurance coverage with the introduction of the ‘Ileradapo’ scheme for the state workforce and the public, noting that over 70,000 people had benefitted from the health scheme, with over 1,500 surgeries done so far free of charge.

“We have expanded our health insurance coverage with the “Ileradapo” scheme, benefitting all state workers and the public, and I can proudly say that over 70,000 beneficiaries have participated in the scheme. Furthermore, over 1,500 free surgeries have been performed to date.

“Under the Ibidero Scheme, we offer comprehensive support for pregnant women, including free pre-natal and post-natal care, and an additional N5,000 per birth in our state hospitals and primary health care centers,” he added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment  Barrister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, represented by the state controller, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nnambi Enuah, restated the commitment of the present administration to continue to pursue policies and programmes that prioritizes the rights of workers in the country.

She further said that the federal government in order to mitigate the consequences of some of its recent policies have rolled out palliatives like the wage award, Presidential Constitutional Grant Scheme, grant for large manufacturers, loans for small and medium businesses, consumer’s credit scheme, among others, urging workers to continue to renew their strength and renew their commitment and support to government at all levels.

Also, the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, called on the government to address unemployment and the high cost of living in the country.

He commended Governor Abiodun for his leadership capability and unmatched response to doing what was necessary in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

The labour leader also appreciated the governor for the implementation of the N10,000 transport allowance and the 40% increment in workers’ basic salary.

The highlight of the May Day celebration was the presentation of the Best Friendly Governor Award to Governor Dapo Abiodun by the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and match past by various unions in the state.

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Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, gave the assurance during the commemoration of the May Day celebration, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the 2024 May Day celebration is ‘People First’.

Onyejeocha recalled that on January 30, 2024, the federal government took a decisive step towards enhancing the welfare of Nigerian workers by inaugurating a 37-man Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage.

According her, the committee was tasked with the critical responsibility of recommending a realistic national minimum wage that aligned with the current economic landscape.

“Since then, the committee has been working tirelessly alongside Labour leaders to reach an agreement on a new National Minimum Wage that reflects the country’s economic realities.

“Although the committee could not reach a consensus at its last meeting before the May deadline, we want to reassure Nigerian workers that we are working diligently around the clock with organised labour to conclude negotiations and ensure a successful outcome.

“Our commitment is unwavering and the Nigerian workers should be rest assured that in spite of the short delay, the new minimum wage will take effect on April 1, 2024,” she said.

According to her, government was receptive to the committee’s suggestion of transitioning beyond a mere minimum wage to a living wage that truly reflected the value of workers’ contributions.

Onyejeocha said it was unacceptable for any worker to toil tirelessly and still struggle to make ends meet, hence, the ongoing efforts by the federal government to pay Wage Award to workers and review of the National Minimum Wage by a tripartite committee.

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She further said that was to ensure that every worker received a fair living wage that would enable them to live with dignity, provide for their families, and contribute to the growth of the economy.

The minister also affirmed government’s commitment to placing the needs and aspirations of workers at the forefront of the national agenda.

She said that was through the provision of fair and just working conditions which were not just ideals but basic human rights.

“This is because every worker deserves to work in an environment free from exploitation, discrimination, and oppression.

“We must, therefore, strive to create workplaces that foster dignity, respect, job security and inclusivity for all,” she said.

She urged all stakeholders to embrace a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and patriotism, coupled with diligence and increased productivity.

She added that by working together, we could lift our nation out of poverty and usher in an era of prosperity for workers and citizens alike.

“Rest assured that this government empathises with the struggles of workers and citizens and will not falter in its commitment to their well-being.

“I urge organised labour to foster a conducive environment that promotes constructive engagement and collaborative problem-solving for the benefit of all stakeholders and the nation as a whole,” she said.

Source: NAN

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Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said this during the inauguration ceremony of the 13-man committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

The 13-man committee was inaugurated to determine the recipients of the next NPOM Award of the National Productivity Centre, NPC.

Onyejeocha said since the inspection of the award in 1991, that was the 4th committee to be inaugurated for such an important assignment for the nation.

“As you may be aware, the constitution of the members of the NPOMAC is critical to the process of selecting the awardees for the NPOM award for this year and the years to come.

“It may interest you all to know that it became necessary to reconstitute a new committee as the last committee was dissolved by the immediate past minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Simon Lalong.

“Today, with us, are eminent Nigerians who have been duly nominated to be inaugurated into this committee for this all important national assignment.

“It is worthy of note that their nomination was done based on their competence and dedication to duty,” she said.

According to her, “no doubt, the task ahead of you is enormous but I am confident that you will justify the confidence reposed in you all and meet up with the very expectations placed on this committee to deliver.”

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She, therefore, appealed that the integrity and quality of the award must be preserved at all cost.

“It is worthy to state here that this assignment is of great importance to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.

“This administration is committed to unleashing our country’s full economic potential, by focusing on job creation, access to capital for small and large businesses inclusiveness.

“Others are the rule of law, and the fight against hunger, poverty and corruption, by which productivity is the bedrock,” the minister said.

She, however, commended the National Productivity Centre under the leadership of Dr Nasir Raji-Mustapha, for all the efforts put into promoting productivity initiatives like this national awards.

Speaking, Dr Nasir Mustapha, Director General of NPC, said the award was designed to recognise and honour the most productive individuals.

According to him, NPOM award was also recognised organisations in Nigeria in the year of the award for achievements made in the three preceding years.

“Specific objectives of the Award are to recognise institutionalised productivity consciousness and excellence in service among workers and organisations in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.

“It is also to recognise and highlight the contributions of the individual workers as well as organisations to higher productivity.

“To also accord workers and organisations proper and due recognition and reward the most productive workers and organisations.

“This is both in public and private sectors for diligence, high performance, high productivity and research achievements, among others,” he said.

Mustapha, however, said that those nominated in the committee would be properly briefed and orientation would also be given to them.

Also, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, representing Productive Sector and also the chairman of the award committee, commended the federal government for finding them worthy of the nomination.

Members of the committee were nominated from various sectors such as Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association, NECA.

Others were representative from Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OHSCF;  Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN; and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines Agriculture, NACCIMA, among others.

Source: NAN

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Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry on Monday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU had directed its members to embark on a seven-day warning strike over the non-payment of four months withheld salaries.

Recall that the President Bola Tinubu had in October 2023, directed that the university workers that embarked on prolonged strike in 2022 should be paid four months.

Recall also that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who were part of the unions that embarked on the strike had been paid their own withheld four months salaries.

Onyejeocha also expressed displeasure at the action of the unions, which she described as a total disregard of federal government’s concerted effort to address the concern of the unions.

According to her, the ministry was not officially notified by the unions of their intention to proceed on a seven-day warning strike.

“This is contrary to the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act.

“The ministry got wind of the intended warning strike and it reached out to the leadership of the unions for an emergency meeting in order to avert the strike.

“Unfortunately, a physical meeting could not be arranged between the unions and the federal government, but a tele-discussion took place between their leadership and the ministry,” she said.

Onyejeocha said that consequently, the ministry suggested another date, Monday 18th March, for a proper conciliation meeting.

She added that that was believing that on the basis of that discussion, the intended strike would be put on hold pending the outcome of the meeting; but that date was rejected by the unions.

The minister however, maintained that strike did not serve any useful purpose and should only be resorted to as a last option after exhausting every conciliation effort.

Onyejocha appealed to SSANU and NASU to step back from their hard-line stance and meet the federal government at the table for conciliation.

She however, appealed to all Nigerians to always take steps that were beneficial to the well-being of the country and the citizens.

Source: NAN

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Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said this at a roadshow sensitisation rally in Kugbo, furniture market, on Thursday in Abuja.

Represented by Alhaji Mohammed Tolani, Director Skill Development and Certification, the minister said government had begun the enforcement of 12 years minimum age for individuals to engage in apprenticeship scheme in Nigeria.

“This breaches the United Nations and International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention and standards.

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“The policy has been clearly spelt out under Labour law cap 198 section 49-53 LFN,” she said.

Onyejeocha said the ministry had commenced enforcement of the law and sensitisation of the people to the knowledge of the crime in the six geo-political zones of the country.

She said the ministry had started issuing  Trade Test Certificate of Competence to deserving beneficiaries in order to boost employment generation.

According to her, to qualify for the training scheme, an apprentice must be accredited by the Department of Skills Development and Certification in the ministry.

Source: NAN

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The minister who is also the supervising Minister of the NDE made the assertion on Thursday when fielding questions from the journalists after the inspection of products and services paraded by the NDE successful beneficiaries at the 44th edition of Kano International Trade Fair.

According to the minister, “NDE was established to provide skills towards creation of blue collar jobs. I am happy seeing NDE beneficiaries who are very successful, people who have been trained as far back as 2008 and have been feeding their families with their products, some of which are of international standard. All they needed is government backing to optimize their products and get the right access.

“Our intent at this particular point in time is to provide support for those who have been trained by these successful beneficiaries and ensure that they are empowered and do not relapse to the unemployment market. Some of them train as many as 70 people per month; we shall ensure they also become successful and able to provide for their families too.

“The summary of it all is that if you come to the NDE, you can be employed without being employed by another person or organisation. You can be self-employed. I am happy with what NDE is doing.”

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Earlier in her keynote address, the minister said that the timing of the trade fair was apt as it complimented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trapping of a sustainable course for Nigeria’s prosperity.

She said that the federal government, aside from making efforts to clear inherited billions of dollars, had also established a committee to reduce tax burdens on Nigerians.

She assured Nigerians that the present administration would reverse the worrisome trend in economy, saying, the government was working assiduously towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, into the country.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, said that in line with the theme of the fair, “Economic Diversification: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development,” the directorate, aside providing skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development opportunities to many Nigerians, had recently strengthened many macro enterprises of its beneficiaries through soft loans to ensure sustainability.

He said NDE was willing to empower as many people as possible under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

NDE’s participation in international trade fairs, according to him, was to provide opportunities for the beneficiaries of various skill acquisition programmes to showcase the effort and commitment of the federal government through the NDE at self-employment creation.

The President of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, KACCIMA, Alhaji Garba Imam, in his opening address appreciated the Minister of State and the NDE for their support in building the chamber over the years.

Spotlights of the events were the exchange of souvenirs, group photographs and inspection of NDE pavilion and few others.

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