Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Professor Stephen Ocheni, has affirmed that towards mitigating the unhealthy competition and rivalry among trade unions, the Federal Government is committed to entrenching an enduring industrial relations system that will act as an engine for national development and growth.

The Minister made this assertion on Tuesday while inaugurating the national industrial relations policy meeting. According to him, “There is no gainsaying that a National Policy given its strategic role in promoting consensus and social dialogue will provide a rallying point for all the stake holders to own the process and ensure its sustainability. The policy will also define roles and responsibilities for social partners as well as provide the necessary check and balances against actions that have the tendency to inflame the industrial relations system and dislocate government’s economic aspiration.”

Speaking further, the Minister stressed that “the absence of a national policy on industrial relations has been the bane of our industrial relations system which this government is out to address through the deliberative experts meeting.” He stressed that “the essence of developing a national industrial relations policy is predicated on the incessant industrial actions being experienced in the different sectors of the nation’s economy.”

Ocheni, however, noted that the policy will provide guidelines that will ensure industrial peace and harmony in the work places and the country at large and enhance on the country GDP growth and contribute positively to the realisation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Bolaji Adebiyi, said the meeting was coming at a most auspicious time when the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure a peaceful and harmonious industrial relations climate in all sectors of our national economy.

Adebiyi further stated that formulating and implementing a policy on industrial relations is indeed obvious, adding that it will play a significant role in moderating the conduct of social partners in industrial relation environment since it will assign roles and responsibilities to the various stakeholders and galvanise the system for higher national productivity.

He assured the experts and stakeholders of the Ministry’s unflinching support and provision of an enabling environment for development of a functional national policy which will meet the aspirations of both the government and all social partners.

Earlier in her remarks, the Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, Mrs. Omoabie Akpan, expressed her satisfaction at the presence of all Management Staff at the meeting, adding that “it is a show of commitment and readiness to develop a national policy on industrial relations for the country,” she enthused.

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