Major stakeholders in the Nigerian Industrial Relations System will converge in Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, (MINILS), Ilorin, for the seventh edition of its annual National Labour Relations Summit and Fellowship Awards on Thursday 17th November, 2011.

This year’s Labour Relations Summit with the main theme “Consensus Building, Conflict Management and Social Transformation in Nigeria: An Industrial Relations Perspective” is aimed at providing a platform for exchange of ideas by government, labour, employers, academia, civil society and the international community on the emerging international best practices in industrial conflict management. The summit also has the objective of reflecting on topical work-related issues and the implications for various parties.

As the Federal Government  commits to a transformation process, this year’s gathering of critical stakeholders in the Nigerian industrial and labour relations system, under the chairmanship of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor of Ondo State, is expected to be attended by industrial and labour relations practitioners both nationally and internationally, and will focus on the contribution of critical actors in Nigerian industrial relations to nation building, in addition to appraising their capacities to impact on current social transformational process. The summit will also focus on repositioning labour as a strategic actor in national development and sustainable democracy.

At the occasion, there will be conferment of awards of the Fellow of National Institute for Labour Studies (FNILS) on the following distinguished personalities who have contributed immensely to the development of quality and effective Labour Administration and promotion of best practices in the Nigerian Industrial Relations system.

They are, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State and former President of NLC; Professor Oladapo  Afolabi, immediate past Head of Civil Service of the Federation and former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; Mr. Victor Eburajolor, former official  of NECA and past member of MINILS Governing Council; Senator Bukola Saraki, former Executive Governor of Kwara State and Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic  of Nigeria; and Comrade (Mrs) Peace Obiagulu, former President General, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

The Honourable Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the National Industrial Court, (NIC) Abuja will present the lead paper of the summit titled “Building Effective Conflict Management Mechanisms for sustainable Development: A focus on the Nigerian Labour Sector” while Professor Segun Matanmi of Lagos State University will present another paper on “Consensus Building in the Context of Minimum Wage Determination: – Issues and Challenges”.

Dignitaries expected at the summit include the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, as the Special Guest of Honour, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, the Executive Governor of Edo State and the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu. Others are the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Presidents and General Secretaries of industrial unions and affiliates of NLC and TUC.

Ex-Osun NLC Chairman killed

FORMER Chairman of Osun State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Alhaji Sulaiman Oseni, has been killed by unknown gunmen.

Oseni was gunned down on Monday night in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

According to sources the late unionist was attacked at about 8.00pm in his cyber café at Monday Market area along Osogbo/Ilorin express road, Ikirun.

As at the time of this report, no clue had been adduced to why Oseni, who was chairman of the state NLC between 2002 and 2006, was killed.

He was before his election as the NLC chairman in the state, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT between 1998 and 2004.

The deceased has since been buried according to Islamic rite at his residence; sawmill area in Obaagun via Ikirun attended by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Sauday Akere who led the state government delegation.

Akere while speaking at the burial condemned the dastard killing of the labour leader and charged security operatives to fish out the killers.

When contacted the state Commissioner of police, Mr. Solomon Olusegun said he was yet to be officially briefed on the incident.