Abuja: The National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has announced a strategic partnership with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to enhance human capacity building and training initiatives. This was revealed by NSIWC’s Chairman, Maj.-Gen. Junaid Bindawa (rtd), in a statement disseminated by Emmanuel Njoku, the Head of Press and Protocol at NSIWC, during a visit by Bindawa and his team to PTDF’s leadership in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bindawa emphasized the significant roles both entities play in developing human capital. He highlighted PTDF’s invaluable support in collaborating with NSIWC on capacity building and human capital development initiatives. Bindawa stressed the necessity of renewing this partnership with increased vigor, pointing out that despite their distinct mandates, both organizations have considerable overlap in areas such as developing indigenous human capacity for the petroleum industry, as well as education, training, research, and development.
Bindawa elaborated on NSIWC’s vital responsibility in policy development related to salaries, income, and wages. The commission advises the government on remuneration matters, aiming to promote a fair and sustainable remuneration system within the public sector. He noted the shared interests of both organizations in human capital development, institutional effectiveness, productivity, and the creation of highly skilled manpower. Furthermore, Bindawa mentioned the NSIWC’s critical role as a stakeholder in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which influences remuneration decisions in the oil and gas sector.
In his remarks, PTDF’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Shuaib Shehu, expressed readiness to collaborate with NSIWC in training and human capital development. He recognized NSIWC’s crucial role in workforce welfare and motivation, asserting that cooperation between the two bodies would be mutually advantageous. Shehu emphasized the need for a motivated workforce to address the country’s development challenges and called for the harmonization of salaries and wages across sectors. He also voiced concern over declining motivation within the teaching profession at primary and secondary school levels, stating that meaningful development hinges on investment in human resources.
The visit concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on capacity building between NSIWC and PTDF, marking a significant step forward in their collaborative efforts.