MAY DAY 2023: Ngige congratulates Organized Labour on their successful National Delegates’ Conferences 

…. Says Nigerian workers, whether in the public or private sector, are the backbone of the country’s economy.

Oru Leonard 

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A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, SEN. DR. CHRIS NWABUEZE NGIGE, OON ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2023 WORKERS’ DAY CELEBRATION ON MONDAY, 1ST MAY, 2023.

PROTOCOLS.

I am delighted to be in your midst today as your Special Guest of Honour for the 2023 workers/ May Day Rally in solidarity with Nigerian Workers. As most of you probably already know, Workers’ Day, which is also known as May Day, is a day that has been set aside to honour the huge contributions of workers all over the world. It is a day for us to celebrate the achievements of working people and acknowledge the challenges they face every day. May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is celebrated in over 80 countries worldwide.

In Nigeria, the first International Workers Day was celebrated in 1980, and it has since become an annual event for the Nigerian Labour Movement. As we celebrate Workers’ Day, it is important to recognise the crucial role that workers play in building and sustaining the economy of any nation our great nation Nigeria inclusive. Nigerian workers, whether in the public or private sector, are the backbone of the country’s economy. Without the hard work ,productivity and dedication of Nigerian workers, our nation would not be where it is today.

I would like to use this opportunity to officially congratulate Organized Labour i.e., Trade Unions Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on their successful National Delegates’ Conferences held a few months ago, especially that of the NLC which produced a new leader in Comrade.Joseph Ajaero, to replace our ebullient immediate past President Comrade Ayuba Wabba. I fervently hope and pray that your tenures will witness remarkable strides that will take Organized Labour in Nigeria to a higher level. As you exercise the leadership roles of your various Centres, please ensure that industrial peace and harmony remain your watchwords.

I would like to also thank the two Labour Centres for their wisdom and vision in choosing the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Workers Rights and Socio-Economic Justice’. This theme is not only apt, but a clarion call and just reminder of the need to take stock of our efforts and collective responsibility in promoting the decent work agenda, which in the main ensures decent wages, boosting of disposable incomes of Nigerian workers generally, improving job security, facilitation and provision of conducive workplaces, establishing, expanding and strengthening social safety nets, closing the widening income inequality gaps, and ensuring fair job placement practices.

Comrades, and distinguished guests, the Nigerian government recognises the importance of Nigerian workers, and we are committed to creating the right environment for them to thrive. In the past few years, we have taken a number of measures to support Nigerian workers, including [1 ] The review and increasing of the National Minimum Wage, 2 019; [2] Institutionalising its review automatically every five years in the Act; [3 ] Providing better working conditions, and environment[4]Investing in training and re- training , education. And human capacity development for her workers.

However, we also recognize that there is a lot more work to be done to improve the lives of Nigerian workers. We acknowledge the fact that many Nigerian workers continue to face significant challenges, including low take home pay, lack of job security, and unsatisfactory working conditions. We are committed to addressing these issues and creating a more favourable environment for Nigerian workers to thrive. The solution to these challenges will not come overnight but as work in progress. These have been top priorities on the agenda of the outgoing Administration and are also being bequeathed to the incoming Administration and with a work plan for addressing them as Government is a Continuum.p7. To this end, I am glad to announce that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration has launched several initiatives and programmes, including the National Enterprise Development Programme, the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme, the Nigerian Social Investment Fund, and the National Technology Development Programme. These programmes were designed to create jobs, provide training and skills development, and support small and medium-sized enterprises.

These landmark programmes and achievements are worthy of note. It is hoped that with your support, the incoming Administration will do better in line with the developmental blueprint of our political party.8. It will also be recalled that since the emergence of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) on the first of January, 2007, it has not been reviewed by any of the past Administrations.but for the consequential Minimum wage adjustment of 2019 for all wage structures under this Government in 2019 However, in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian workers, the Federal Government recently worked out the introduction of a 40% Peculiar Allowance into the remuneration and emoluments of core Federal Civil Servants and other public servants on the CONPSS to help cushion the effects of inflation and other costs of doing their works as they are not on any special allowances.

This demonstrates the government’s and leadership commitment to improving workers’ welfare and conditions of service even without any Industrial action but a fallout of social dialogue. However other worker’s in the other different wage structures like CONHESS,CONMESS CONUAS, CONTISS that started their Collective Bargaining with their Employer even with Industrial action are wounding up their CBAs fo9.the National Salaries Incomes and wages to transmit same for final treatment as provisions were made in the 2023 Appropriations for them with effect from 1st January 20239. Similarly, this Administration invested heavily towards lifting Nigerians out of poverty through its SOCIAL INVESTMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES:> In 2016,

President Muhammadu Buhari launched the National Social Investment Programme, currently the largest of such programmes in Africa and one of the largest in the world. The National Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Nigerians (NSR) now has 32.6 million persons from more than 7 million poor and vulnerable households, identified across 708 Local Government areas, 8,723 wards and 86,610 communities across the 36 States of the country and the FCT. > From this number, 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households (comprising more than 8 million individuals in 45,744 communities from 5,483 Wards of 557 LGAs in 35 states and the FCT are currently benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, which pays a bimonthly stipend of N10,000 per household. 10.

Not forgetting the Housing Sector, The Family Homes Fund Limited (FHFL), incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria in September 2016, is the implementing agency for the Buhari Administration’s National Social Housing scheme.> More than two thousand (2,000) hectares of land with titled documents have been given by 24 States under the Buhari administration’s Social Housing programme, which can accommodate about 65,000 new homes.>Under the National Social Housing programme, Nigerians will be given at least 15 years with a monthly payment at a 6 per cent interest rate to pay for each housing unit.

The Central Bank of Nigeria provides an N200 Billion financing facility, guaranteed by the FGN.States like Enugu, Nassarawa Delta Asaba ,Kano have benefitted their workers from the scheme.The FISH programme of the Office of the Head of Civil Service has also operated this scheme for the benefit of many civil servant to own homes.More is expected to be done as the scheme progress.

On Agriculture which employs the vast majority of our citizens, this Administration’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, has made more than 300 billion Naira to more than 3.1 million smallholder farmers of 21 different commodities (including Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Cassava, Poultry, Soy Beans, Groundnut, Fish), cultivating over 3.8 million hectares of farmland.> Presidential Fertilizer Initiative: Launched as a government-to-government partnership between the Nigerian and Moroccan Governments in December 2016, the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) produced ~12 million 50kg bags of NPK 20:10:10 equivalent in 2020, bringing total production since inception to over 30 million 50kg bags equivalent; and the number of participating blending plants increased to 44 from three at inception to mention but a few.

As we celebrate Workers’ Day, let us remember the millions of Nigerian workers who have dedicated their lives to building and sustaining our great nation. Let us recognise their contributions and acknowledge the challenges that they face every day. Let us also remember the sacrifices of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty – who have given their lives so that others can live theirs.We remember particularly the Coal Miners shot in Iva Valley Enugu and others

As we look to the future, let us work together to create an environment that supports Nigerian workers and allows them to thrive. We would continue to invest in all aspects of Education Primary Secondary,Technical and Tertiary education and skills development, create opportunities for young people, and support small and medium-sized enterprises. The Review of our Labour Laws are on course.We would complete the ongoing process of amending and strengthening our labour laws in order to ensure that workers are treated fairly and with dignity. The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the transmission of our jointly reviewed Labour Bills to the National Assembly for further Legislative action and this is Being done with utmost dispatch.

Finally, as we celebrate this May Day, I implore all of you, especially Labour Leaders, to consolidate on the mileage already covered by the Federal Government in the last eight (8) years, eschew acrimony, factionalism, selfishness, and develop a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation and engage in Social Dialogue rather than Aggression and unnecessary industrial actions with Employers.Social Dialogue as an elixir would engender mutual trust and understanding ; strengthen and consolidate unity needed to build the prosperous and egalitarian Nation of our dream.

Great Nigerian Workers, in closing, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all Nigerian workers for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to our nation. On behalf of the Nigerian government, I wish you all a happy and prosperous Workers’ Day.

Thank you, and God bless Nigeria.