The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has reaffirmed the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the enhancement of the welfare of Nigerian workers by ensuring that employers of labour at all levels comply with the Minimum Wage Act.

The minister stated this when he received the Secretary General of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), Sharon Baron.

He said that the Federal Government is already working on the minimum wage by putting in place a technical working committee.

Ngige said that despite the current economic situation, the country has managed to mitigate its impact by reducing overdependence on oil, by venturing into agriculture and solid minerals, among others.

The minister expressed the support of the Federal Government to the efforts of the International Labour Organization at combating slave labour in Qatar.

“You can count on our support in the fight against slave labour in Qatar, my Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have addressed this matter leading to the proposed agreement between the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Qatar been put on hold in view of the wide report of unfair and slave labour practice in the Country.”

Ngige also informed the Secretary General of ITUC, that Nigeria had requested the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to upgrade its Country office in Nigeria and had also extended invitation to the Director-General of ILO Mr. Guy Ryder to pay a working visit to Nigeria.

Earlier in her remarks, the Secretary General of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), Sharon Baron, applauded the stance of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the promotion of decent work, while requesting the support of the Nigerian Government in the fight against slave labour in Qatar.

She said “Nigeria has always been a strong government in defence of decent work and we need your support in this fight against slave labour as the government of Qatar runs a system where the workers right are determined by the employers and not by the government even in the issues of minimum wage. We need your help to protect Nigerians in Qatar.”

Daily Trust