By Bimbola Oyesola
Staff of of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State, have been charged to consolidate on the landmark achievements of the past four years of the institution and deepen labour education for industrial harmony and national development.
The director-general of the institution, Issa Aremu, in an interview with Daily Sun Workforce, said, while divergent views are inevitable in any transition in an institution, staff must move on to deliver on the mandate of MINILS to build capacity for labour sector stakeholders in line with Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This, he noted, must be done with respect to decent work, social dialogue, productivity improvement and Industrial harmony.
Aremu expressed that his reappointment, “is a tribute to the dedicated smart working staff and management of the Institute” adding that it is also a call to those lagging behind to stand up and add value to the premier training centre in West Africa sub – region.
“We have to do this through improved service delivery, respect for civil service rules and country’s labour laws,” he said.
He promised to further prioritise staff welfare with regular promotion tied to approved performance management system of the Head of service of the Federation.
The Director General also showed deep concern about what he said the recent “avoidable and unacceptable toxicity in an hitherto serene training institute through unacceptable intimidation and harassment, cyber and on site bully of colleagues under the cover of unionism”.
“It is time to stop misinformation, and suppression of legitimate voices of peace loving working staff of the Institute,” he said.
Consolidation
The Director General however expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his reappointment, pledging to consolidate on the achievements of the last four years and further commit the Institute to the Renewed Hope Agenda on quality labour education to promote decent job creation and industrial harmony in the country.
“My reappointment further repositions me to continue with the promotion of labour/civil society/ citizens engagements on the unprecedented achievements at the labour sector of the progressive and Labour/ friendly leadership of the President,” he said.
He added that the present administration have recorded unprecedented achievements which include 2024 National Minimum Wage Act; the most expansive and impactful N758 billion bond to settle long standing pension liabilities; employment of 774 National Health Fellows; youth employability and poverty eradication program through SKILL-UP-ARTISANS (SUPA) program.
“Others include, “mass jobs from deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector after subsidy removal and crude-for- Naira for PH and Warri, Dangote Refineries; 2-5 million Labour Employment and Employment Programme (LEEP) programme and public sector job retention; non/ retrenchment in the wake of declining public revenue and unprecedented commitment to re-industrialisation of the country among others.”
Aremu equally hailed the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Minister of state for Labour, Barrister Nkiru Onyejeocha; The National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alumni Association of the National Institute AANI, CDHR, the Gamji Members Association (GAMA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), People Living With Disabilities, women and youth organisations and the media organisations, all whom he said have played major roles in the present repositioning of the institution.
He also commended the Nigeria Police force and Department of State Security services ( DSS) for maintaining security at the premier Institution.