By Demola Akinyemi

The recent visit of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to the tense premises of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State capital, has restored industrial peace between factions divided over the reappointment of the Director General, Issa Aremu.

At the end of the minister’s visit, warring factions agreed to work with Aremu, who was reappointed for a second term by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that following the end of Aremu’s first tenure in March, a section of workers at the institute opposed his reappointment, citing grievances from his first term. Their opposition threw the institute into unrest, prompting the minister’s intervention.

Vanguard gathered that prior to the visit, Acting Director General Mr. Ayorinde Ezekiel, along with some management staff, received the minister at the Ilorin International Airport. 

The reappointed DG, Aremu, was also on ground with his team to welcome the minister and her entourage.

At the institute premises, factions of workers chanted discordant slogans. While some protested Aremu’s reappointment, others welcomed it. Tensions peaked as a group attempted to block his entry into the premises, leading to a brief commotion.

It took the firm intervention of the minister to restore calm.

Once peace returned, the minister proceeded to the institute’s hall to meet with the workers and management, including the DG. Vanguard learned that both the minister and the DG addressed the workers during the meeting.

The Permanent Secretary and other top officials also spoke at the session.

According to sources,  Onyejeocha asked aggrieved workers to present their concerns, which they did. She assured them that the issues raised would be looked into and appealed for cooperation with the reappointed DG.

She emphasized the need to move MINILS forward under the renewed mandate of  Aremu. Vanguard gathered that following the peace meeting, the DG resumed duty officially on Monday, signaling a return to normalcy at the nation’s premier labour institute.