Nigerian Ministry of Labour

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity is the Nigerian Federal Ministry concerned with relations between workers and employees. It is headed by the Minister of Labour, who is appointed by the President, and is assisted by a Permanent Secretary, who is a career civil servant.

Leadership

Hassan Muhammed Lawal was appointed Minister of Labour in 2003, and was reappointed by President Umaru Yar'Adua in July 2007.^[1] 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.^[2] The Permanent Secretary in December 2009 was Dr. Haruna Usman Sanusi.^[3]

History

The Federal Ministry of Labor 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 Labor Inspectors attached to the Governor’s Office. With growing worker agitation over cost Of living allowances, the Department of Labor was established on 1 October 1942. It was headed by a Commissioner and two Labor Officers, and was charged with dealing with labor 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 Labor was created in addition to the Department of Labor, and the two were merged on 1 April 1958. After Independence in 1960, the Ministry has grown steadily, renamed the Federal Ministry of Employment Labor and Productivity in 1979 and the Ministry of Labor in January 2007.^[4]

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.^[5]

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).^[6]

See also

• Federal Ministries of Nigeria
• Nigerian Civil Service

References

1. ^ "Yar'Adua names cabinet". Africa News. Friday 27 July 2007. http://www.africanews.com/site/Nigeria_YarAdua_names_cabinet/list_messages/10239. Retrieved 2009-12-25. 
2. ^ "Usman, Odey, Madueke moved in Yar’Adua’s team". OnlineNigeria Daily News. December 18, 2008. http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=14393. Retrieved 2009-12-25. 
3. ^ "Permanent Secretaries". Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. http://hosf.gov.ng/civil_service/disposition_list_5. Retrieved 2009-12-25. 
4. ^ "Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity". Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity. http://www.fmlp.gov.ng/. Retrieved 2009-12-25. 
5. ^ "Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity - Departments". Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity. http://www.fmlp.gov.ng/departments.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-25. 
6. ^ "Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity - Parastatals". Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity. http://www.fmlp.gov.ng/parastatals.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-25.