Federal government has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to tackling the socioeconomic challenges and evolving lasting solutions to the emerging threats to the nation’s advancement.
At a town hall engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja yesterday, the minister of state for labour and employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasised the government’s determination to tackle head-on the ills that have troubled the country in recent years.
She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, ministers, and other stakeholders for supporting the meeting, which aimed to actualise the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present administration.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to reform the economy, ensure inclusive growth, and strengthen security nationwide.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Patience Onuobia, the minister said the federal government remains committed to fulfilling its pledge to Nigerians and is working tirelessly to restore Nigeria’s economic pride globally, tackle socio-economic challenges head-on and find solutions to emerging threats.
To achieve this, Onyejeocha said the government is collaborating with policymakers, employers, and workers to generate momentum for development, while the ministry is tasked with ensuring decent work, industrial peace, and harmony to drive national growth.
She said, “This administration’s mantra ‘Renewed Hope Agenda, Unity and Progress for all Nigerians”, predicated on eight points focusing on job creation, education, health, food security, and social investment as essential pillars of development; a policy implementation that will reform the economy, ensure inclusive growth, and strengthen security for peace and prosperity which government has vigorously pursued at all levels. This remains the pledge we made to all Nigerians hence the government is working round the clock to put Nigeria in its pride of place in the global economy.
“I therefore make no excuses as this government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is determined and committed to tackling headlong all socio-economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall by the grace of God Almighty evolve solutions to emerging threats to our wellbeing as a nation,” she said.
The stakeholders’ engagement, according to her, was designed to raise awareness among labour leaders, employers, and civil society organisations; mobilise the workforce to achieve the “Renewed Hope Agenda”; foster cooperative labour-government relations, replace conflict with collaboration.
“Recognising this, the federal government has sought and continues to seek to collaborate with policymakers, in this case, both employers and workers’ representatives, who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum so that together we can attain enviable heights of progress in our beloved country,” she added.
Onyejeocha expressed confidence in the experts’ ability to proffer implementable strategies to achieve the agenda. She thanked President Tinubu for his vision and leadership and the stakeholders for their participation.
At the event, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Yemi Cardoso, expressed the firm conviction that every period of adversity inevitably presents its own unique set of challenges, which are subsequently followed by a return to stability.
Cardoso, who was represented by head of pensions in CBN, Mr. Omolola Adegbenga, said the apex bank’s activities are solely focused on fostering economic development and advancement.
He noted that while some individuals may posit that certain achievements are unattainable, others may counter that all things are possible.
Cardoso, however, stressed that hope provides the essential foundation for potential achievement, and that concerted efforts will ultimately culminate in exceptional success.
He said, “It is not a coincidence that the president came up with ‘Renewed Hope’. I believe that every storm comes with challenges, and after which there will be calm. Every activity of the CBN is geared towards economic growth and good governance.
“When you say nothing is impossible, you are right. When you say nothing is possible, you are also right, but I want to let you know that hope is the foundation of possibility and with collective effort we will achieve greatness.”
Participants at the event included Mr. Inuwa Yakubu, representing the ministry’s permanent secretary; the director-general of National Productivity Centre (NPC), Hon. Baffa Dan Agundi; his National Directorate of Employment (NDE) counterpart, Silas Agara; the DG of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu; representative of the managing director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Adedeji Adegoke and a representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Mrs. Chinyere Emeka-Anuna.