Tinubu committed to tackling unemployment — Minister

The Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammed Dingyadi, has outlined the Ministry’s policy direction, with a special focus on employment creation and industrial peace and harmony.

He stated this on Wednesday, stressing that the Ministry’s role is not to offer jobs but to create policies and programmes that facilitate job creation in both the public and private sectors.

The Minister noted that President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria, with job creation being a key priority area of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of developing green and digital skills to empower the Nigerian workforce and announced plans to launch the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, which aims to train and equip 2.5 million people annually over the next four years.

According to the Minister, the programme will focus on creating new industries, jobs, and a workforce prepared to lead in a sustainable future.

Additionally, the Minister stressed the need to promote industrial peace and harmony and announced the validation of the National Industrial Relations Policy to achieve this goal. He also reiterated the administration’s zero tolerance for unhealthy labour practices, including child labour and irregular labour migration.

“Permit me, at this point, to say a few things about the policy direction of the ministry, under my leadership and that of the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment. Often, when people talk about this ministry, many think our job is only to register and regulate the activities of trade unions and mediate in labour disputes.

“Under my leadership, we intend to consolidate on the achievements already made in the second leg of our mandate, which is Employment. We do not offer jobs here. Our duty is to create policies and programmes that facilitate job creation in the public and private sectors. My predecessors, including the Minister of State with me here, have started doing that. Some of you were at the opening ceremony of the Abuja Job Fair 2024, where we reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to addressing unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.

“Like I said at the Fair, the President is committed to not only tackling the symptoms of joblessness but also addressing its root causes by fostering a culture of skill development, innovation, and sustainability. Of course, you know that job creation is key among the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.

“We cannot pretend about the fact that youth unemployment remains high, and millions of capable Nigerians face barriers to achieving their full potential. The situation is not peculiar to Nigeria or Africa, but a global phenomenon.

“We already have a roadmap for the future of work in Nigeria, as encapsulated in the theme of the job fair: ‘Empowering the Nigerian Workforce with Green and Digital Skills.’

The green economy raises the demand for sustainable skills, with industries in the energy and agriculture sectors, among others, adopting more environmentally conscious practices.

He said, “Our administration has zero tolerance for unhealthy labour practices, including child labour and irregular labour migration. Working with local and international partners, all these issues will be confronted head-on while we are here.

“I must not fail to mention that the Ministry is poised to launch the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, a strategy for creating more employment opportunities. The initiative is projected to train and equip 2.5 million people annually within the next four years with the necessary tools and opportunities to thrive in the digital age. This project is being driven by the Minister of State, and necessary committees have been set up to organise the launch of the Programme soon.”