By Mohammed Mohammed
The Federal government has called for sustained industrial harmony among labour leaders and their respective employers to drive national development, noting that common interest and common purpose are predicated on partnership and dialogue.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 2020/2021 meetings of the separate and joint national public service negotiating councils at the instance of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on Monday in Abuja.
The theme of the brainstorming session zeroed on: ‘Labour/Government Relations in the post COVID-19 Era’.
The interface explored critical matters bordering on the welfare and conditions of service of workers in the public service for optimal performance and national objectives.
Yemi-Esan, while speaking, acknowledged that there cannot be meaningful development in any country where the grievances of workers who are the drivers of development are ignored.
In a statement signed by Akinwumi Taiwo Olufunke, on behalf of the Director of Communications at the HoS’ Office, Mr. Aminu AbdulGaniyu, she quoted the HoS as saying that:
“…Organized labour has the critical role of evolving and inculcating new principles of industrial relations that would promote collaboration and advance institutional strategic thinking.
“This is with the objective of sustaining industrial peace and harmony in the Public Service for improved productivity especially in the face of current global realities and circumstances.” she added.
The HoS Office, Yemi-Esan, stated, is committed to ensuring that these meetings hold annually, as lessons learnt from the past have proven that dialogue and periodic meetings of stakeholders within the ecosystem of industrial relations go a long way in sustaining industrial harmony.
According to her, some of the initiatives of the present administration, targeted at improving the capabilities and welfare of civil servants and providing an enabling environment to operate maximally and deliver the much-needed services to Nigerians for economic recovery from COVID-19 and accelerated national development, to include:
Approval of the Federal Executive Council of the Policy on Virtual Engagements, payment of backlog of death benefits, provision of year 2020 Group Life Assurance (GLA) Cover for federal government employees and procurement of year 2021/2022 cover, ongoing work on the harmonization of salaries, approval of the 2021 edition of the public service rules.
It also include: the computation of annual leave based on working days as opposed to calendar days in the old PSR, introduction of paternity leave of 14 working days for male Officers to provide opportunity for them to bond with their new born babies and contribute to the early care of the children.
This is also applicable in event of official adoption of a baby not more than four months old and the upward review of the rates of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) in the public service to meet current economic realities, restoration of the Tenure Policy: In the revised PSR, a Director or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post; and a Permanent Secretary shall hold office for a term of four years which is renewable for a further term of four years, subject to satisfactorily performance and no more.
The others include: 5% of all employment opportunities in the public service shall be reserved for persons leaving with disabilities and that public servants will now be encouraged to engage in ICT and Agricultural business value chain, provided that it does not conflict with their official duties.
The HOS, noted that viable reforms in the service would require the support of labour unions to ensure the effectiveness of the reforms, therefore the need to ensure Industrial peace and structured dialogue at periodic intervals for constructive engagement with stakeholders.
She maintained that the welfare of workers is of utmost importance to the present administration, adding: “For us in the public sector and in his understanding and continued commitment to the welfare of civil servants and as part of the administration’s response to mitigate the adverse economic effects of COVID-19, it is worth noting that President Muhammadu Buhari ensured that no civil servant was owed salaries or laid off.” she added.
“As stakeholders and in the spirit of collaboration in the national interest, I urge us all to continue to embrace the principles of mutual respect at all times, and to also embrace the tenets of integrity, merit, performance and transparency in the conduct of government business in consonance with the ethics of the Public Service and collective bargaining.” She stressed.
The Chairman of Council and Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, in her address reaffirmed the great importance government places on the continual improvement of work conditions and welfare of public servants.
She stated that the theme of the meeting will reawaken consciousness on the need to sustain industrial peace and harmony in the service.
Onwudiwe, solicited the support of every stakeholder for sustained industrial peace and harmony in service.
She implored the trade unions to always have continuous collaboration with government and embrace the principles of collective bargaining and mutual respect towards improving effective and efficient service delivery in the public service.
In his remarks, the president, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who commended the federal government on its various reforms called for improved welfare for civil servants in areas of housing and pension to discourage corruption in the service.