Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Christopher Isiguzo; Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello; and Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Abubakar Yuguda, were among eminent citizens honoured with fellowship of the National Labour Institute in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital North Central Nigeria.
The conferment of the fellowship was the grand finale of the activities commemorating the 40th anniversary of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin.
The institute is under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment supervision, with Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) overseeing its affairs.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who spoke through the Director General, National Productivity Centre, Abuja, Dr Kashim Akor, said it is a policy in his ministry for elected labour leaders to undergo training in MINILS.
He said the essence of the training at the institute was to get leaders in the labour movement acquainted with requisite skills to address Industrial disputes whenever the need arises.
Ngige, who identified industrial disquiet as a recurring issue in the labour industry, said employers and employees must find a common ground to resolve the crisis.
The minister applauded the governing board and management of the institute for working assiduously in providing labour education and thus bridging the yawning gap that had existed over the years.
He said the federal government was in talks with African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) in Harare, Zimbabwe to make MINILS a study centre to cater for West African countries in labour administration.
“As I speak, we are discussing with African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) with headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is an organization facilitated by ILO for training in labour administration among English-speaking African countries.
“The discussion is targeted at ensuring that MINILS become a study centre to take care of West Africa countries in labour administration,“ the minister said.
In his remarks, the Director General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu, urged fellowship recipients to favour secured and meaningful employment, respect of rights and freedoms at work, social protection and security and social dialogue.
Other recipients of fellowship included the NUJ National Secretary, Comrade Shuaibu Usman Leman; former NUJ President, Mallam Mohammed Garuba and President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Mojeed Olawale Olusegun among others.
