By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The newly appointed Director General and CEO of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State, and a frontline trade unionist, Comrade Issa Aremu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his consistent labour friendly policies.
Aremu has assumed office as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute following his appointment by President Buhari for a 4-year term.
Addressing the staff and management of the Institute and stakeholders on assumption of office at the weekend, Aremu said it was time the Institute complemented the functions of the federal ministry of labour and employment through its mass training, research and consultancy services, human resource development and capacity building activities in the area of labour and industrial relations geared towards the promotion of industrial harmony, productivity and justice.
He observed that his appointment as the first unionist to be CEO of the 40-year-old institute underscores “President Buhari’s commitment to inclusiveness in governance”, adding that it also signposts the labour friendly disposition of his administration, listing improved 2019 Minimum Wage Act, public job retention despite the challenges of economic recession and disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic, commitment to creating 1000 jobs in each of the 774 local governments, and commitment to lifting 100 millions out of poverty in ten years.
According to Aremu, for the first time in 60 years after independence, President Buhari accorded labour “legitimate recognition with two ministers, namely Dr Chris Igige and Mr Festus Iyayi, SAN, and he knows that labour creates wealth if properly trained and motivated.”
The labour icon praised the two ministers for their interventions on what he called “preventable and avoidable” labour dispute between the Kaduna state government and Nigeria labour Congress ( NLC), saying the Kaduna labour crisis underscores the relevance of the Labour Institute to urgently build capacity and competence among governments, employers and trade unions on labour market issues with respect to collective bargaining, social dialogue and productivity.
He said: “If the workers are enriched in a culture of total education, it will definitely impact positively on the social dialogue process, thereby enthroning a just political and social order.
“I promise to enhance the enlightenment and empowerment of workers towards service and patriotic oriented pursuit.”
Meanwhile, the new Director General has commiserated with President Buhari on the tragic aircraft crash which claimed the lives of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Atahiru and 10 other Air force and Army officers, adding that the sad and tragic occurrence must be a renewed wake up call to all compatriots to continue with the task of national building.
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