The Minister of Labour and Employment lashed out at Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly NECA
Dr Chris Ngige, Nigeria Minister of Labour and Employment
The minister on a high note has criticized the ministry on the act carried out, saying the ministry is suppose to be the parent body of the workers in the private sector and that the ministry has shown the lack of incompetency in the caring for the workers well-being.
There was a release of statement by the deputy direction "Press" with the person of Prince Samuel Oloowokore in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, that the NECA was acting in the interest of the development and growth of the Nation.
Below is the statement;
" If government has been intervening and shall continue to intervene to save banks and allied institutions, even the aviation industry, in times of distress without allowing the free market rules to solely reign, therefore not forcing some of them to go under, the same government can equally make minimum demands from this private sector in the overall interest of the nation. Our authority on this instance is not to only statutory but also moral"
"Therefore, we wish to state clearly once more, that the intention of government rather that being punitive on these financial institutions is to safeguard national interest by staving off unnecessary job losses and hence avert its real and potential threat to the already fragile security situation and stability of the nation.
"Government intention is guided by the fact that there are clear alternatives to the abrasive lay-off of thousands of workers especially in the background of non-compliance with laid down rules on redundancy as clearly enunciated in our labour laws.
"The labour unions in the financial institutions have brought forward, very strong evidence that thousands of workers laid off last year in a similar exercise are yet to receive their negotiated benefits. We wish to state that it is only an irresponsible government that will trivialize such a situation and the attendant responsibilities. The Buhari administration is patriotic, nationalistic and very responsible and shall continue to take measure that protect our institutions, private or public.
"We also add that our directives to the banks are premised on set rules of engagement. That section 20 of the labour act is abundantly clear on redundancy and steps expected of institutions to safeguard not just their interests and that of their employees but also that of government who is the chief guarantor of industrial harmony.
"It is hence unpatriotic and a predetermined sabotage of common good to expect that government will have its hands tied by a mischievous and self serving credo about free market.
Senate visited the rampaging issue of retrenchment of workers when the Minister of Labour and Employment was summoned by the upper arm of the National Assembly on Wednesday over his threat to withdrawing the license of any bank found wanting in the retrenchment of its staffs.
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