Minister Dingyadi promises to prevent industrial union strikes through dialogue and fair compensation

On November 28, 2024By Pranco

Nigeria’s Minister of Labor and Employment, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, has said the current government will no longer allow trade disputes to degenerate into outright industrial action.

He said the development of an informed workforce that the government aims to create will result in an overall reduction in the number of industrial disputes in our workplaces.

He was speaking at the 7th National Workshop of the Registrar of Trade Unions on the Current Challenges and Prospects of Trade Union Governance in Nigeria, held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dingyadi said his ministry hopes to prevent strikes through constructive dialogue with the aggrieved people and ensuring they get what is due to them.

“The solution is to talk to the people who are disadvantaged and call on them not to strike. So if you take everyone with you and listen to their grievances, there will be no strike.

“What is important is that you talk to people, listen to their complaints and try to give them what they deserve. This is what we are going to do,” he said.

On the allegations of non-fulfilment of agreements often leveled against the government by trade unions, the minister said most of these agreements were reached by previous governments and they have a long way to go.

“You know that situations keep changing and we have to see what we can do to fulfill those agreements as much as possible. You will agree with me that things are not so easy now due to the lack of resources, but we will sit down together and see how we can move forward.”

Dingyadi said that apart from improving productivity, regular education and empowerment workshops are the essential ingredients for developing an informed workforce, which in turn results in the overall reduction in the number of industrial disputes in our workplaces, and thus as agents of change and productivity. improvement.

He said the topics to be discussed during the workshop include; thematic areas of labor such as the legality of strikes by trade unions; Workplace rights relating to the promotion of harmonious industrial relations through collective bargaining; Challenges and creative solutions for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

Other topics included the future of work in a challenging economy with perspectives on workplace relationships in Nigeria; and Effective management of trade union affairs, focusing on challenges and opportunities.

While welcoming the participants to the event, the Director in charge of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labor and Employment, John Nyamali said the aim of the annual conference was to

find workable strategies for addressing identified challenges in labor administration in our dear country, given the emerging trends in the world of work.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo