By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Organized labour has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari administration for initiating far reaching public sector reforms without retrenchment of workers, but creating     opportunities for  employment generation.

Labour spoke through Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN and a  member of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, Issa Aremu,  in Kaduna at the reception for the members of the Board of NSIWC at Textile Labour House.

Aremu said with the “seamless adaptation” of Treasury Single Account, TSA, across the MDAs, Efficiency unit as a cost saving measure, Zero-Based budget approach and Bank Verification Number, BVN, Buhari administration had shown that “reform does not necessarily    be a war of attrition or shock therapy resulting in mass job losses as it was in the past.”

According to him, contrary to popular impression that reform meant additional burden for the workforce, critical policies initiatives such as Executive Orders mandating government agencies to patronize local goods, Anchors Borrowers programme by CBN and Growth Enhancement Support Scheme had opened opportunities for more jobs creation.

Aremu also hailed President Buhari and his Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, for facing up to the challenges of the “crisis of compensation and salary administration in line with the mandate of NSIWC. We commend the Federal government for mainstreaming wages and salary, and helping defaulting states to pay salaries. We urge state governors and employers of labour in both private and public sectors to emulate both President Buhari and    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in    appreciating the linkage between good pay for workers and national economic recovery.

“NSIWC is the most important    labour market institutions. The commission under the leadership    of Chief Richard Onwuka Egbule is fulfilling its mandate as advisor of government on remuneration in general. Equitable income policy is indispensable for good governance and economic development.”

The Board of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission was inaugurated in September by the Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mrs. Habiba Lawal, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari. The board, is chaired by Chief R. O. Egbule, appointed for a term of five years, renewable at the discretion of the President for another term not more than five years.

The commission has three part time commissioners including, Ekpo Nta, Alhaji Dauda Yahaya and Hon. Garba Musa Gulma. The part time commissioners are; Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani, Geoffery Yilleng, Chief E. O. Wole Iro-Aye and Ahmed Mahmud Gumel.

The Permanent Secretary (Estab.), OHCSF, Permanent Secretary (Fed. Min. of Labour & Productivity, Comrade Issa Aremu and Chuma Nwankwo are the members.