Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is expanding its scope beyond the resolution of industrial disputes between the government and labour unions. It is now committed to playing a more proactive role in enhancing the economy and generating employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar, made this assertion during a courtesy visit by the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) in Abuja.
The Ministry aims to make a tangible impact on the lives of Nigerians through the renewed economic agenda of the Tinubu administration. This agenda prioritises the creation of employment opportunities for the nation’s unemployed population, and the Ministry is dedicated to realising this objective.
Abubakar stated, “The Ministry is poised to make greater impact in the lives of Nigerians through the renewed hope agenda of the President Tinubu administration, which is committed to ensuring that employment opportunities are created for the unemployed Nigerians.”
He emphasised that addressing the challenge of poor budgetary allocation is crucial for the Ministry to implement employment-focused programmes effectively.
He further stated that the Ministry is determined to extend its role beyond resolving industrial disputes to actively contributing to the country’s economic growth.
To achieve this, the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) was launched, an initiative aimed at developing employability skills for young graduates, school leavers, and artisans. However, the Ministry’s skill acquisition centres across the country require significant renovation to facilitate training in various fields such as agro-allied value chain development, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and other critical skills.
Abubakar highlighted the need for enhanced budgetary allocation to revitalise these centres and urged the media to spotlight the challenges facing the ministry. He encouraged journalists to provide constructive criticism and advice to improve the Ministry’s planning and coordination efforts.
In response, the Acting Chairman of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Abulu Patrick, expressed the association’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in promoting socioeconomic development in Nigeria.
