Don’t sack workers now, FG begs private investors

Nigeria’s Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige

The Federal Government on Saturday begged investors in the private sector to desist from sacking workers at the moment, stressing that the country’s economy is in a critical stage.

According to the government, the sack of any employee would have serious negative effect not just on the retrenched fellow, but on the larger economy.

The Minister Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, disclosed this at the Investiture Ceremony of Engr. Otis Anyaeji as the 30th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in Abuja.

Ngige, who was represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi, said the role of engineers in job creation could not be over-emphasised, adding that the provision of employment was one of the cardinal objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister urged the large turnout of private sector operators at the gathering to always seek ways of managing their workforce without necessarily increasing the number of unemployed persons in Nigeria through sacking of staff.

He said, “Engineers are too critical to the nation and this is because they create jobs. We all know that one of the President’s key priorities is job creation. But without engineers this cannot be achieved. So engineers are of great significance to our country, especially with respect to job creation.

“Now I think it is important to state that we should not lay off staff at this critical stage. Because if we do, we will be creating more problems. You should try to micro-manage and retain the staff that you have now. Because no matter how much we accommodate, government alone cannot be the largest employer of labour. The largest employer of labour is, of course, the private sector.”

Earlier in his address, the new NSE president said engineering was key to over 95 per cent of the activities in the public and private sectors of the economy.

Anyaeji said engineering infrastructure, industrial and agricultural economics were critical for the adequate planning and managing of an economy.

He said, “The NSE will work with like-minded persons and bodies to get the government to appreciate that industrialisation drives both infrastructure and agriculture. Without attaining a critical level of in-country manufacturing, adequate and reliable infrastructure will not be achieved, and profitable and sustainable mechanisation of agriculture with self sufficient agricultural process will remain elusive.”