By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Mr Issa Aremu has advised the Federal Government to strengthen labour market institutions.
Aremu gave the advise on Saturday in Ilorin while speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the first four years tenure as the substantive DG of the Institute
He observed that this will complement Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, with respect to decent mass employment, productivity improvement, industrial harmony and poverty eradication.
He commended Tinubu’s administration for appreciating labour as source of national wealth through revised national minimum wage and payment of outstanding pension arrears.
He described MINILS as a premier National Institute for labour studies since it was inaugurated by the late President Shehu Shagari in 1983.
According to him, the institute has impacted on many Nigerian workers in the past 42 years through its regular systemic educational service delivery.
The Director General noted that the institute aligns with the policies of the federal government in utilizing locally produced goods in Nigeria, as the Institute purchased locally assembled vehicles among others.
He therefore urged other relevant agencies to key to the initiative of the federal government aimed at placing Nigerians at the heart of all business and economic activities in the country.
“The Institute has also been active in promoting industrial harmony at workplaces, labour, and foster government social dialogue.
He observed that the institute also surpassed the 2024 Ministerial Deliverables Target of 1,250 to over 3000 on-site/online at the Institute in Ilorin.
“MINILS has trained as many as 720 youths drawn across the six Geo-political zone in the country on entrepreneurship skills in Cinematography, Photography, Carpentry, Wood work, Tie and Dye,” he said.
He pointed out that MINILS also recorded a significant gender mix of both male and female participants from different unions, employers’ associations and states including People Living with Disabilities (PLWD).