NLC to new labour minister Lalong: Empathise with Nigerian workers
By Muhammadu Sabiu
Nigeria Labour Congress leaders on Sunday argued that the next minister of labour needed to understand the plight of the workforce, particularly at a time when the economy is experiencing difficulties that directly affect them.
Before Monday’s swearing-in of new ministries by President Bola Tinubu, the leaders participated in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Funmi Sessi, expressed confidence in Simon Lalong’s ability to carry out his duties as Minister of Labour and Employment considering his background.
Mrs. Sessi advised Lalong to deal with labour concerns using the expertise he had gained from serving as the former governor of Plateau State.
“The future is bright with labour and Lalong as the minister, all things being equal, if he will not change, and with the good industrial relationship that he maintained with the labour unions in his state.
“I hope he will extend it to the labour centres in Nigeria, including Nigeria Labour Congress, all workers, not only in the public sector, but private as well; both formal and informal.
“This is necessary so that we can have the working people in Nigeria partake in the same wealth that they create; it will be a commonwealth, and that is our hope,” she said.