Abuja: The newly appointed Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, assumed office on Tuesday, committing to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessors. He emphasized the importance of fostering peaceful industrial relations and ensuring harmony in all labour-related matters during his tenure.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Dingyadi expressed his intention to work closely with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the entire staff of the ministry to ensure continued success in fulfilling its mandates. He assured that in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s focus on the well-being of citizens, especially workers, he would include all stakeholders in resolving disputes.
In her welcoming remarks, Mrs. Onyejeocha noted that the ministry is aligned with the eight-point priority agenda of the current administration. She mentioned that each ministry, including Labour, is required to sign a performance contract with the Presidency and is
assessed quarterly. The Labour Ministry has already submitted its third-quarter reports on presidential priority areas and ministerial deliverables.
Mrs. Onyejeocha also revealed the development of the Labour Employment Empowerment Programme (LEEP) as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda to create 25 million jobs for women and youth. This programme is set to be formally launched by the president soon. Additionally, she highlighted the ministry’s significant role in the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Discussing the new national minimum wage, Mrs. Onyejeocha stated that the ministry, in collaboration with Labour Unions and other stakeholders, successfully negotiated the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. She noted that the labour environment has remained relatively peaceful under the current administration.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, being the oldest in Nigeria, has a wide range of responsibilities, including employment generation through skills acquisition, empowerment for women and you
th, maintaining labour standards, productivity measurement, occupational safety and health, social security, and managing trade union relations and conflict resolutions in the labour sector.