The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is the Nigerian Federal Ministry concerned with relations between workers and employers. It is headed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, who is appointed by the President, and is assisted by a Permanent Secretary, who is a career civil servant.
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The Current Minister is Dr. Chris Ngige as Minister of Labour and Employment.
Hassan Muhammed Lawal was appointed Minister of Labour in 2003, and was reappointed by President Umaru Yar'Adua in July 2007. He was moved to the Ministry of Works and Housing and replaced by Adetokunbo Kayode in December 2008. Kayode had previously been Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. Chief Emeka Wogu was then appointed Minister of Labour and Productivity in 2010. The Permanent Secretary in December 2009 was Dr. Haruna Usman Sanusi.
History
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has been in existence (with different names) since 1939, with the central purpose of ensuring cordial relations between workers and employers in the public and private sectors. The body was created after the start of World War II to coordinate resources for war efforts, with first one and then two Labour Inspectors attached to the Governor’s Office. With growing worker agitation over cost Of living allowances, the Department of Labour was established on 1 October 1942. It was headed by a Commissioner and two Labour Officers, and was charged with dealing with labour movement issues, ensuring the orderly development of Industrial Relations and enforcing protective legislations. The organization grew as the war progressed, with offices opened in the industrial centers of Enugu, Kaduna and Lagos. Later a Ministry of Labour was created in addition to the Department of Labour, and the two were merged on 1 April 1958. After Independence in 1960, the Ministry has grown steadily, renamed the Federal Ministry of Employment Labour and Productivity in 1979 and the Ministry of Labour in January 2007.
Organization
The outward-facing divisions the Ministry of Labour are Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations; Employment and Wages and Inspectorate. The Trade Union Services Division formulates policies on trade union organizations and manages disputes and complaints. It also assists in worker’s education, and keeps records on trade unions and their activities. Internally oriented departments are Human Resources; Finance and Supplies; Policy, Analysis, Research & Statistics.
The Ministry is responsible for several parastatals (government-owned agencies): Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies (MINILS), Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Productivity Center (NPC), National Industrial Court and Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP).