Ngige charges labour on fight against corruption

MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senetor Chris Ngige says the current battle against corruption by the Federal Government will be difficult to win without the full cooperation and commitment of the organised labour.

He described the nation’s workforce as critical for the success of the administration and pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to clear all arrears of salaries and allowances owed federal civil servants.
“One of the cardinal promises made by the President while campaigning for votes is to wage a successful battle on corruption and save Nigeria from further slide into socio-economic morass. Government has lived true to that promise. The effort is on-going, but every Nigerian, especially, the organised labour has a critical role in bringing this battle to fruition,” he explained.

He charged labour to look into areas of leakages and assist government to block them, saying, “when we talk about corruption, it is mostly the senior workers and not the junior cadre that are neck deep in it. Corruption is the reason the nation is yet to take its rightful place in the comity of nations. You must therefore help the government to fight corruption. TUC has a responsibility to assist the government in this enormous task.”

Ngige was speaking recently when he received a delegation of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) led by its President, Bobboi Kaigama.

Addressing the request by the TUC on casualization, National Labour Advisory Council and the abuse of labour clause in international agreements, he stated that Labour ministry would no longer tolerate any form of infraction of such laws, declaring in no uncertain terms, that contract staffing and casualization is antithetical to the uncompromising fidelity of the Buhari administration to Decent Work Agenda.

He stressed that the Inspectorate and Trade Union Services as well as the Industrial relation departments of the Ministry would liaise with the Ministry of Interior to bring about an effective enforcement of relevant labour laws with a view to ensuring total compliance, especially as it relates to expatriate quota abuse.

The Minister said: “Casualization and contract staffing have laws guiding them but they have unfortunately been breached. I want to assure you that as from today and as long as we are here, this shall not be tolerated any more. As a reputable Ministry that should protect Nigerians, we are going to enforce our inspectorate and industrial relations department to work together to set things aright.