Regular Labour Education Key to Sustainable Reforms – NLRS Participants

Participants at the 2024 10th National Labour Relations Summit (NLRS) have concluded that regular quality inclusive labour education for workers, employers, and government officials is essential for the success of the Renewed Hope reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The summit, organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, was officially opened by President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

The NLRS is Nigeria’s largest annual gathering of stakeholders in the labour relations sector, celebrating a decade of fostering dialogue and collaboration. Previous summits have seen participation from thousands, including prominent labour leaders, ministers, governors, and international partners.

This year’s event, themed “The Future of Work and Renewed Hope Reform Agenda,” drew around 600 participants who engaged in discussions on the reform’s impact on employment.

The key focus was to enhance industrial harmony, promote social justice in workplaces, and boost productivity for national development.

In his address at the summit, MINILS Director-General, Comrade Issa Aremu, observed that following “legitimate mixed reactions” that have trailed reform measures, there was the need for a veritable platform to “regularly but constructively” assess the impact of the reform Renewed Hope Agenda, on job creation, productivity, wage improvement, and industrial harmony for prosperous Nigeria.

‘Audacity of Reform’

Comrade Aremu hailed President Bola Tinubu for what he called “audacity of reform” which necessitated “controversial immediate removal of the Trillion-naira per annum subsidy payment on petrol products and liberalization of the foreign exchange market”.

He said the ongoing national and international debate on the imperatives of reform in the country was “healthy” for Nigeria.

“It is good that inclusive issues of ‘development’ and ‘ggrowth” now feature in Nigeria’s discourse with “reform enthusiasts” pointing to the emerging benefits and “reforms sceptics” alluding to the adverse effects of rising inflation and worsening wage income poverty,” he said.

The Director General, however said the premier labour Institute (MINILS) offers a veritable platform to constructively promote social dialogue on how to “maximize the benefits of the reform Agenda and minimize the adverse impacts” adding that “genuine reforms must undergo quality control”, should have “win-win” outcomes on the future of work, with respect to job creation, productivity, wage improvement and industrial harmony for prosperous Nigeria by all stakeholders.

Constructive Engagement

Aremu commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and organised labour for the constructive engagement that has mitigated the adverse impact of reforms on costs of living, transportation and wages of the workers, following labour’s legitimate protests and concerns.

“Unlike the reform under President Olusegun Obasanjo which led to indiscriminate mass retrenchment of public employees, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commendably retained jobs in the public sector like the former President Muhammed Buhari who despite COVID-19 retained jobs and paid public servants under the global lockdown.

“Significantly President Tinubu paid Presidential wage award of N35,000 to federal workers for six months and cash transfer of N25,000.00 monthly to 15 million of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians for three months.

“The most historic is the enactment of 2024 3-year cycle National Minimum Wage Act of N70,000, after an intense and well-coordinated tripartite (plus) collective bargaining process between the government, organised labour and employers of labour,” he said.

The Director General said labour is the most critical success factor of development, which must be motivated for development.

“Wealth of humans is the wealth of nation. Nigeria should motivate and build capacity for 75 million labour force in formal and informal sectors to deepen the reform agenda,” he stated.

While commending some state governors who have paid more than the national minimum, he urged stakeholders to engage further for “wage-led and job-led economic growth” adding that “Minimum and living wage should be complemented by minimum productivity and minimum discipline in the public service.”

The key highlight of the summit was the unveiling of the 2025 Training Calendar of the Institute, which features as many as 53 courses on various labour market themes.

As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote workplace harmony for national development, the Director General disclosed that MINILS in 2024 surpassed the 2024 Ministerial Deliverables Target of 1250 to over 3,500 workers in private and public sectors drawn from the 6 geopolitical zones of the country who have been trained, including people living with disabilities (PLWD).