FG passionate about workers’ welfare, private sector development – Minister

Prof. Stephen Ocheni, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has said the Federal Government is passionate about the welfare of workers and growth of private sector.
Ocheni said this in a statement by Rhoda Ishaku, Assistant Director of Press in the ministry on Wednesday.
Ocheni said this during a symbolic workplace inspection in some selected workplaces in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, including the West African Ceramics, BN Ceramics and the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
He said: “The private sector development is a key factor in the economic development of Nigeria; that is why President Buhari has embarked on all-inclusive economic policy under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plans.
“The policy emphasises the need to carry along the private sector since the private sector development is very key programme in the execution of the economic policy of the Federal government.
“This Symbolic Factory inspection is designed to ensure that the minimum standards spelt out in the relevant Labour Acts and Factory Acts are complied with to ensure that workers have their desired welfare, health and safety.
“The essence is for us to have improved performance and productivity as this cannot be attained without a healthy workforce.
“When you have a healthy workforce, of course you can expect the attainment of the goal of the organisation which is improved output.
“Welfare of workers is paramount and minimum standards must be attained.”
Also, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, Director, Occupational Safety and Health, said the symbolic inspection was the statutory function of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
She said the inspection was to ensure the industrial peace and harmony in the country as contained in the Labour Laws and Factory Acts.
Anyanwutaku said: “The inspection is not a fault-finding exercise but aimed at advising both the employer of labour and the employees on the best labour practices in labour administration.
“The essence is to nip in the bud matters which would have escalated into industrial crises which the present administration frowns at.”
Lawal Indirisu, Chairman, West African Ceramics Industries Limited, said that the company was made up of 750 permanent staff and 250 outsourced workers.
According to him, the outsourced staff will gradually be absorbed into the system based on viability of vacancies.
He said the organisation had made all efforts to promote workers’ welfare and safety.
He said: “We have organised in-house workshops on health and is in the process of training about 5o workers on occupational safety and health in the next two weeks.” Also Liu Yangxi, Managing Director, BN Ceramics Industry Limited, said that some of the challenges faced by the factory were over bearing issues of multiple taxation, duties and tariffs on imported spares.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to help reduce some of the challenges.