Government opens talk with Labour on workers’ welfare  

Mr Emeka Wogu
Minister of Labour and Productivity,

Government opens talk with Labour on workers’ welfare  
Helen Shok Jok, Abuja

The Nigerian government and the leaders of labour unions have held an interactive meeting aimed at charting a definite way of improving the well being of Nigerian workers.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, expressed belief that the success of the Transformation Agenda required dialogue and contribution from Labour Unions and Employers of labour and as such invited 15 Trade Union/Associations for a one day interactive session held on Thursday, October 20, 2011.

The meeting, which discussed other labour issues affecting trade unionism and government policies, according to the minister, was not aimed at dividing the labour movement but to kick start serious negotiations with affiliate labour unions, before the issues will be discussed at the level of the labour centres.

Mr Wogu, who said the interactive session would also hold in Lagos, Port Harcourt  and some other parts of the country, noted that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was  a concise policy initiative conceived to zealously pursue the development and advancement of the Nigerian people.

Removal of subsidy

He said: “Imbedded in it is the on-going deregulation of the oil and gas sector which will involve withdrawal of subsidies on PMS (Petrol). This withdrawal of subsidy is not intended to inflict any pains on Nigerians as campaigned in some quarters.

“Based on the anticipated gains of the proposed deregulation in the oil and gas sector, government has planned massive accompanying intervention schemes in key sector such as transportation, education and establishment of indigenous refineries using local content.

“With your corporation and support, government is prepared to improve our public transportation system and where necessary collaborate with labour for the efficient management of the system. Without prejudices and sentiment, labour should critically examine this proposal and possible extract concrete commitment from government on the judicious use of the subsidising other sector."

The government, he emphasized, can no longer bear the subsidy burden at the expense of failing infrastructure that should directly affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians saying that Nigerians must rise as a people to confront this challenge for a better Nigeria.

Mr Wogu stated that the government was reaching out to labour as a social partner and in recognition of its relevance in achieving sustainable development.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mr Anthony Ozodinobi, said the government had continued to strive to deliver its mandate through the labour ministry and had recorded remarkable achievement, which are indicative of the labour-friendly stance of the ministry.

One of these, according to him, was the approval of the 18, 000 Naira (about 120 dollars) minimum wage, even though there are still challenges at the state level.

He pointed out that the progress so far was encouraging as more of the state governments were already buying into the policy.

One of the labour leaders who attended the meeting, the Deputy President of the Radio Television and theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU), Mr Olu Jetro, said the meeting ended with all the unions present rejecting the government’s policy on the deregulation of the oil sector.

Williams