Improved Labour Administration Implementation, Response To Economic Crisis- PS Kachollom
Oru Leonard
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment , Kachollom Daju has stressed that improved Labour Administration Implementation will go a long way in enhancing productivity and responding to the current economic crisis the world is experiencing.
She said that context in which International Labour Standards operate have changed fundamentally owing to socioeconomic challenges and developments, which has led governments to review their labour operating models to suit these peculiarities.
A press release made available to News Dot Africa and e-signed by Olajide Oshundun, Director, Press and Public Relations on 22 June, 2023, states that Daju spoke at The Senior Officers Conference organized for the Professional Department of the Ministry and it’s Agencies, themed: “Labour Administration in a Dwindling Economy: Issues, Challenges and Prospects” .
She expressed that the country was currently passing through soci-economic changes and challenges of its own which could be attributed to the removal of petrol subsidy by the present administration among other peculiarities , saying that this current economic crisis has availed Federal Government and the ministry by extension an additional opportunity to redefine the role and working methods, as well as increase the profile of labour administrations as a key mechanism in crisis response.
“This year’s Conference theme, “Labour Administration in a Dwindling Economy: Issues, Challenges and Prospects” is apt at this time when the nation is passing through some socio-economic changes and challenges, which currently can be attributed to the removal of petrol subsidy by the present administration. The current economic crisis has introduced an additional impetus for redefining the role and working methods, as well as increasing the profile of labour administrations as a key mechanism in the crisis response”, she said.
Daju emphasized that if the Ministry and its agencies must remain relevant and effective, there is a need to strengthen the role of key players in coordinating elements of national labour policy, vis a viz other critical government policies to achieve a holistic intervention towards achieving a healthy industrial climate.
“Furthermore, the new forms of employment relationships, owing to technology and artificial intelligence is a trend that we cannot shy away from if the future of work in Nigeria is to be safe guarded and the strategic objectives of the Ministry, realized,” she said.
She also noted that Labour Administration System cannot effectively thrive if operated in isolation and called for better inclusion within the public service so other critical programmes of government aimed at enhancing productivity in the Service are mainstreamed into daily operations to ensure a holistic implementation.
The Permanent Secretary informed that the Ministry had made remarkable strides towards implementing FCSSIP 2021-2025 and other Public Service Reforms, reviewed key policies like the National Policy on Occupation Health and Safety, Labour Migration and National Employment Policy, Upgraded the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX) resuscitated the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) , received international recognition by being elected at the Chair of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as ratified relevant ILO conventions to strengthen labour administration in the country to meet international best practices.
She commended the principles officers and heads of agencies for all their contributions and urges them to continue to sue for effective and efficient service delivery in their day to day operations.
Also speaking at the conference the Director Inspectorate, Mrs Olaolu Olaitan explained that today’s Labour Administration was operational in a rapidly changing environment characterized by dramatic economic, institutional and political transformations that had affected patterns of production, work organization, employment structures and increased labour migration.
She said that these changes had also put government under pressure to reduce public spending whilst improving public service delivery adding to challenges labour administrators have to deal with. She added that to effectively improve quality of service depends largely on the coherence the National Labour Policy.
The Director stated that the objective of the conference was therefore to define ways to deepen labour administration services especially in a dwindling economy to improve the wellbeing of those in the world of work.
Social partners of the ministry present at the event included representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA) amongst others.
Photo Credit: The Nation
