The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige has disclosed that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully aware of the high rate of unemployment and underemployment and the need to combat it through diversification of the economy. Sen. Ngige who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Clement Illoh stated this in Abuja today in his keynote address at the National Dialogue on Future of Work Initiative organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Sen. Ngige stressed that “It is critical to state that the National Dialogue on Future of Work Initiatives has become very imperative for Nigeria as a country in order to develop strategies for addressing the various challenges and changes which have emerged in the World of Work over the years. Such challenges include amongst others: climate change, casualization, contract work, information and communication technology, working from home, outsourcing.
The Minister emphasized that the ILO, pursuant to its objective of humanizing work which will be celebrated at its centenary anniversary in 2019, initiated four thematic areas that will guide member countries in responding to the dialogue on the future of work initiative, as follows: Work and society, Decent jobs for all, the Organization for work and Production, and the Governance at work.
He stated that the importance of the National Dialogue on Future of Work Initiative cannot be overemphasized. Apart from opening the window of opportunities for the advancement of ILO’s mandate for social justice through engagement of all stakeholders to debate and contribute to the reflection on the Future of Work, it will also establish a High-level Commission on the Future of Work that will organize activities at the 108th Session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland in 2019 during its centenary where the Report of the Commission will be discussed
He further stated that it is very imperative to note the outcome of the dialogue aside from serving as an input into the High-level Commission’s Report in 2017, it will also serve as a roadmap for addressing the challenges of unemployment in the country. He emphasized that this administration is strongly committed to promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic development, productive employment and creation of decent jobs for our teeming youths.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Clement Illoh who was represented by the Acting Director Productivity Management and Standard Department in the Ministry Ms Nene Dike commended the ILO for initiating the National Dialogue on the Future of Work, aimed at developing strategies to meet the policy changes in the world of work to be presented at the culminating event marking 100 years of ILO existence.
Dr. Illoh said that it was pertinent to state that one of the expected outcomes of this National Dialogue on the Future of Work Initiative is to provide a roadmap for addressing the impacts of the multidimensional changes in the world of work. He urged the participants to adopt strategic thinking in arriving at reasoned national document that will contribute to repositioning the Nigeria economy.
The ILO country office Director Dr. Dennis Zulu stated the main objectives of the Initiative as:
· to generate a better understanding of the forces transforming the world of work and the implications for governments, workers and employers,
· to provide a constructive forum for the exchange of ideas and information between the tripartite constituents as well as other key stakeholders in the formulation of policies and new approaches and
· to articulate and promote policy alternatives, innovative partnerships and good practices that can be replicated by governments, employers and workers and other key partners.
There were goodwill messages from all the Stakeholders in the Labour Sector.
Samuel Olowookere
Deputy Director (Press)
