The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards promoting industrial stability and peace in the country by approving the National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) 2025.
This policy aims to foster harmony between the government and the nation’s workforce, regulating trade union activities to minimize strikes and ensure seamless workflow.
Persecondnews reports that the key objectives of NIRP include: Foster cooperation between employers and employees to reduce industrial actions, establish a comprehensive framework for trade union activities and align Nigeria’s industrial relations standards with global norms, including those set by the International Labour Organisation.
It also seems to promote social dialogue and cooperation among government, employers, and workers.
At a media briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the importance of this policy in ensuring a stable industrial environment.
The policy’s approval follows years of frequent industrial actions due to the lack of a comprehensive national policy.
NIRP came as the government announced the withdrawal of the contentious circular that triggered the ongoing strike by health workers.
The Information Minister said: “This policy is essential for regulating the conduct of the various trade unions within the industrial relations space in the country.
“This is due to frequent industrial actions over the years caused by the lack of a comprehensive national policy.
FEC looked at that and came up with approval for this policy, brought up by the Minister of Labour and Employment.
“The policy will ensure a seamless workload, promote social dialogue and tripartite cooperation among government employers and workers, and also align Nigeria’s industrial relations practices with global standards, including those set by the International Labour Organisation, while underscoring the importance of maintaining industrial relations as a national priority that requires immediate and ongoing attention.
“The Nigerian Government has previously enacted well-crafted laws to govern the industrial relations landscape between labour and employers, with the government serving as regulator.
“However, the implementation fell short of expectations, as many provisions in the laws are often disregarded by the parties involved, hence the (need for a comprehensive National Policy.”
Responding to concerns about industrial harmony in the health sector, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Alli Pate, addressed issues raised by professional groups regarding a recent circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, which has since been withdrawn.
“We are now in the process of negotiating revised allowances transparently,” he said.
According to him, discussions are ongoing with key associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association and nurses’ unions.
“Not all issues are financial; we are also resolving establishment matters like the centralisation of nurses’ postings. The government is committed to ensuring that health workers are respected and supported.”
Persecondnews reports that further negotiations between the government and union leaders are scheduled for Friday August 1, in line with President Tinubu’s directive to maintain constructive engagement for lasting peace.
Meanwhile, the organised labour has vowed to resist any attempt by external forces to cause disunity between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to weaken the agitation for workers’ welfare.
Receiving the new leadership of the Radio, Television and Arts Workers Union, RATTAWU in his office, TUC President Festus Osifo assured that the leadership of the two labour centres will work together to protect the interest of workers.
Osifo, represented by the TUC Secretary-General, Dr. Nuhu Toro, said: “The TUC believes in solidarity. We believe in collective action, and we are confident that together, we can amplify our voices and strengthen our advocacy for justice, equity and improve welfare for all workers in Nigeria.
“We are aware that sometimes management and employers try to divide our ranks, which you captured as divide and rule.
“We are not also ignorant of those tactics, but I would like to assure you that together, we can surmount all of those challenges and ensure that we get value for our working people.”
Receiving the newly-elected executives of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU) in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned what he called “unheard of” government interference in the internal affairs of trade unions.
Ajaero stated that the International Labour Organization (ILO) is closely monitoring the situation.
He emphasized that trade unions are independent organizations governed by their own rules, in line with ILO principles that protect them from government intervention in their establishment, administration, and activities.
He specifically cited the recent interference of security agencies in an internal dispute within RATTAWU and criticized the government’s involvement with Nigerian workers’ funds at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
Leave a comment