Nigeria seeks improved labour cooperation to tackle labour challenges

Only improved labour administration through closer cooperation among member countries of the African Regional Labour Centre (ARLAC) will equip them for increasing challenges in the world of work, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has said. 
   
The charge was contained in a keynote address he delivered at the 47th Governing Council meeting of the organisation which was held virtually, recently.
   
Ngige said: “Nigeria will continue to push for closer cooperation among ARLAC member states as a way to strengthen the administration of labour and enhance the capacity of administrators for challenges in the world of work. With closer cooperation and peer evaluation, our quest for better-trained labour administrators, with capacity in social and economic roles and equipped with competence to impact on others becomes easier. 
   

The highlight of the meeting included a ministerial symposium termed, ‘Skills Development and Lifelong Learning’ which is an adaptation of an earlier series by the ILO in 2020.
   
He highlighted the importance of quality education and training, provision of relevant skills to the young and adults to equip them for the future of work where technological innovation like artificial intelligence, demographic and climate change will limit skills with attendant negative consequences on jobs.
   
The meeting also witnessed the election of new members of the executive office of ARLAC with Zimbabwe as chair as well as Ghana, Sudan, Estwatini and Kenya as vice-chairpersons for West, North, South and East Africa regions. 
   
Ngige attended the virtual meeting alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Peter Tarfa, Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr. Kashim Akor and the Acting Director of Productivity Measurement and Standard, Juliana Adebambo.
   
With headquarters in Zimbabwe, African Regional Centre (ARLAC) is the ILO regional body for the English-speaking African nations, providing a platform for their ministers of Labour and Employment as well as Manpower and Social Welfare to build labour administration in the region.