From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government says it would prioritise gender mainstreaming among the guiding principles for its ongoing labour reforms, to ensure that women and vulnerable workers have equal access to employment opportunities, devoid of any form of discrimination.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, made this disclosure while presenting a keynote address at the 2025 Senior Officers’ Conference of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Spokesperson for the Ministry, Patience Onuobia disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, Dingyadi listed other guiding principles of the reforms to include strengthening institutional capacity, digitizing service delivery, enhancing tripartite collaboration, enhancing occupational safety and health coverage, and reinforcing accountability as well as compliance mechanisms.
He noted that the theme of the conference, “Reforming Labour Administration System in Nigeria,” not only reflected the priorities of the Ministry, but also resonated with the aspirations of the nation to harness its human capital for sustainable development and global competitiveness.
The Minister explained that the global changing patterns of work, technological advances, demographic shifts, climate change, worldwide economic transformation system and globalization are reshaping the way people work, where they work, when they work and how they relate within and outside the workplace.
He emphasised that the Ministry needed to rise to the realities of the global changing patterns of work, and conform to reform to build a resilient, agile, and inclusive labour administration system that is efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of modern-day Nigeria.
The Minister said: “The Conference therefore offers us a golden opportunity for us to reflect, reset, and renew our commitment to the ideals of decent work and equitable labour practices.” Dingyadi maintained that the Labour Administration System in Nigeria has played a pivotal role in maintaining industrial peace and harmony, promoting employment, safeguarding the rights of both employers and workers, as well as paving the way for national growth and development.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Labour and Employment, Salihu Usman, noted that the evolving dynamics of work demand that Nigeria re-evaluates its status to ensure it keeps pace.
He remarked that new technological advancements and innovations, including Artificial Intelligence, and other emerging trends have transformed the world of work.
Usman added that the gathering therefore would provide the opportunity to reflect on how best to reposition labour administration system in the country to respond to the challenges of the time.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi (centre); Permanent Secretary, Labour and Employment, Dr Salihu A. Usman (2nd left); Director, Inspectorate Department, Mrs Olaitan Olaolu (2nd right); Chief Registrar, Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP), Abdulhamid Ali Ibrahim (right); Executive Director, Administration, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Prof. Gabriel Okenwa (left) at the Annual Conference of Senior Officers of the Professional Departments of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and its Agencies – Keffi, Nasarawa State