Presidential Research & Communications Unit - Office of the Secretary to Federal Government

Two separate but related committees to advance the cause of industrial relations have been inaugurated by the Federal Government.

The Presidential Standing Committee on Federal-Labour relations was inaugurated on Monday March 30 by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

The committee will serve as a channel for the discussion of labour issues and grievances and as an outlet for resolving labour disputes on a regular manner.

The committee is chaired by the SGF while other members include the Minister of Labour, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Ministers of Finance, Education, and other ministries and representatives of the relevant labour unions.

Inaugurating the committee, Alhaji Ahmed said the Federal Government is committed to fighting poverty and developing the economy that is why it is setting up the committee in order to facilitate productive dialogue and exchange of ideas, strategies on the management of national economy.

The committee will also provide a forum for the enhancement of official and interpersonal relations among the top members of government and organized labour.

Labour and Productivity Minister, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode on Tuesday March 31 also inaugurated a committee on industrial relations to make considerations and advise government on labour related matters.

The Minister said the committee will be charged with the responsibility of handling issues on sectoral manpower needs, expatriate labor requirement, and the monitoring of the expatriate quota requirement and utilization.

The committee is empowered to co-opt and co-ordinate labor related issues arising from the oil and gas sector.

The committee is also expected to monitor the implementation of the local content policy that is already in place and how it impacts on labor and assist the government in putting regulations that can be compared with international best practices.

The committee is chaired by the Minister of Labour while the Permanent Secretary of the same Ministry is to serve as the Vice President.

Other members of the committee include representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), International Oil Companies (IOCs), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).