By JOAN NWAGWU

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has honoured 40 officers with the Ministerial Service Award for efficiency in service delivery.

Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this during the 2024 ministerial service awards ceremony for the labour sector in Abuja.

The minister said the awardees were drawn from both the ministry and its agencies – Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), and National Productivity Centre (NPC) -.

He said the awards were in recognition of the recipients’ meaningful contributions to national development.

The minister emphasised the critical role of individual, conducive and inspirative workplace in enhancing national productivity.

“”There could be no meaningful and sustainable development without concerted efforts to institutionalise productivity, and productivity advancement structures at all levels of governance.

“Against this premise, the place of productivity as a veritable tool in the achievement of our national priorities, and indeed the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration cannot be overemphasised.

“I, therefore, encourage us all here to put in our best at our various workstations, where we contribute our own quota in the sustainable productivity growth and development of Nigeria,” he said.

Dingyadi added that the award ceremony was a clear indication of government’s commitment to, not just appreciate hard work and dedication, but also reward excellence with tangible incentives.

He assured that, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the government would continue to recognise the people as the nation’s greatest resource.

“Excellence grows when it is acknowledged and appreciated, and recognition of service inspires more productivity.

“Today we commemorate the Nigerian public service and celebrate our officers who have distinguished themselves in various capacities in the course of carrying out the duties assigned to them,” he said.

The minister said that the recipients of the awards were identified and carefully selected on merit.

He expressed the hope that other officers would be motivated by the ceremony to qualify for the 2025 and subsequent years’ awards.

Speaking on behalf of the awardee,

Murna Loma, a Deputy Director in Productivity Measurement and Labour Standards Department in the ministry commended the government for the recognition.

She said the awards would inspire them more to put in their best, while assuring that productivity would continue to be their watchword. (NAN)