FG Committed to Workers' Welfare, Says Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said that the welfare of the Nigerian workers is cardinal to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to ro him, it was for this reason that the federal government has continued to demonstrate an interest in the upliftment of the nation’s workforce.

A statement issued on Monday by the Deputy Director/Head Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, quoted Ngige as saying that the welfare of workers is a cardinal objective of the current administration, adding that the president clearly understands the key role workers play in national development. 

The minister, who spoke in an address at the long service/merit award ceremony of the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos, said this interest was manifested in the various measures the federal government had taken since 2015  to reposition the workforce.

“We can easily flashback to a number of bailout funds he gave to states to pay salaries of workers as well as the unprecedented payment of decades-long arrears of salaries and allowances to the workers in the federal civil service. 

"Let’s not forget that the president also wasted no time in giving his assent to the new National Minimum Wage,”  Ngige said.

Nigerian pensioners, he added, have never been as fairly treated as obtained currently, emphasizing the significant mileage the administration has covered through the Pension Transitional Administrative Directorate(PTAD)

He, therefore, commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for keying into the core agenda of the Buhari administration in the labour sector by promoting social dialogue and embarking on incentives that ginger industrial productivity. 

“As the minister in charge of the interest of workers, I fully appreciate the importance of good corporate reward system in the promotion of competition and excellence, thus, my deep appreciation of today’s event by the Ports Authority.

"Its potential in promoting industrial harmony and productivity cannot be over-emphasized. I hence urge other organisations to borrow a leaf," he added.

He further congratulated those who were honoured at the event, and exhorted workers across the federation to give their best in service, restating the resolve of the federal government to safeguard the rights of workers and promote decent work.