The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment through it Skills Development and Certification Department is sensitizing the general public and stakeholders in the vocational and technical skill sector on rights and obligations of Apprenticeship and Traineeship.
The Director, Skills Development and Certification Department, Mr Mohammed Suraj disclosed this during the Grand Finale of the 2023 Apprenticeship, Traineship and Attestation Sensitization programme in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
He said stakeholders in the vocational and technical skill sector should create awareness in accordance with the Ministry’s mandate which includes, Apprenticeship, Traineeship, Attestation, Certification, Regulation, Enforcement and control.
While speaking on the Apprenticeship rights and obligation, Mr Suraj said “Labour law cap section 49-53 LFN8 clearly spelt out the minimum age for Apprenticeship in Nigeria to be 12 years.
“Anyone who is indulging in child labour according to the United Nation and International Labour Organisation convention standards.
“During the traning period, an apprentice is entitled to a stipend and sick leave and before commencing his or her training an agreement must be signed specifying the duration of training and settlement after training.” He explained.
Mr Suraj revealed that a training workshop must be accredited by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of skills development and Certification on order to maintain standard before training commences.
“Training curriculum must be revised periodically to conform to international best practices and technological advancement.
“At the training workshop safety precautions and regulations are to be strictly enforced by skills development and certification officers and safety officers of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to avoid accident and death.”
The Deputy Director Apprenticeship, Regulatory, Control and enforcement Division, Skills Development and Certification Department of the Ministry, Mr, Tiza Shaakaa said apprentice shall undergo oral, written and practical test at the end of the training after which the Trade Test Certificate of Completion will be issued to successful candidate at a subsidized fee.
“The certificates are in three categories, Trade Test Grade 3 is issued when you have knowlege at the basic level, when you have reasonable knowledge and finished from a technical school or a vocational training centre we give Trade Test Grade 2 and when you have an advanced knowledge such that you are a master trainer you are issued Trade Test grade 1.”
