Buhari sent his message of appreciation to the workers through a Zoom meeting of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, extended his good wishes and solidarity to the workers as they marked the May Day celebration.
“The President has shown his appreciation to you for the way you have conducted yourselves in spite of the deleterious effects of this COVID-19 situation. He has extended his gratitude to Nigerian workers for the way you have fought this coronavirus,” Ngige said in a press statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu.
The Labour Minister allayed fears of possible job losses as a result of COVID-19, saying government and social partners would look at the four-pillar policy responses laid out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) “which are human-centred and built on global solidarity.”
To ensure economic sustainability post COVID-19, Ngige told the workers that the Federal Government was developing a comprehensive Economic Sustainability Plan.
“The plan is being developed by Economic Sustainability Committee led by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and comprising the Minister of Finance, Industry, Budget and Planning, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and others; and a committee set up by the President, comprising Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Communication and Digital Economy, Interior, Works and Housing, Health, Science and Technology, Labour and Employment and Education. We are saddled with the responsibility of producing a comprehensive policy for a Nigerian economy functioning with COVID-19,” Ngige said.
He said talks were ongoing between the Presidential Economic Sustainability Committee and employers on job protection and also creation post COVID-19.
(Guardian)
