The director-general of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, has urged political leaders to prioritise employment and workers’ welfare, saying that labour issues will increasingly determine electoral outcomes.
Speaking at an event marking the Workers’ Day celebration organised by the institute and themed ‘Re-inventing Labour-Management Relations’, Comrade Aremu, who said unemployment remains Nigeria’s most pressing challenge, called for a renewed labour-management partnership as a critical tool for job creation, productivity and national development.
Aremu also advocated a shift from over-reliance on policing to industrialisation, arguing that sustainable security lies in job creation.
He said idle youths could be productively engaged in teaching, vocational skills and manufacturing if adequate opportunities are provided.
‘Government must not govern by policing alone. We need industries and factories that will engage our youths meaningfully,’ he said, adding that a whole-of-society approach involving communities and institutions is key to addressing insecurity.
He noted that Nigeria has sustained its participation in global Workers’ Day celebrations for over four decades, commending the Federal Government and state authorities for keeping the tradition alive.
In a lecture on labour-management relations, Director of Trade Union Education (TUE), Mr Raji Michael, underscored the need for workers to clearly understand their roles, noting that productivity depends on responsibility and collaboration. He described the workplace as a platform for partnership rather than conflict.
Also speaking, Head of Department, Labour Management Relations, Dr Moshood Lawal, emphasised continuous engagement between management and employees, urging leaders to remain responsive and attentive to workers’ concerns.
In his presentation, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, Idris Dele Abdulmojeed, described the theme ‘Re-inventing Labour-Management Relations in the Institute’ as timely, stressing that institutional growth depends on trust, transparency and mutual respect.
He advocated regular consultation with unions, prompt resolution of grievances, fair policies and recognition of excellence, while also urging workers to uphold discipline, professionalism and loyalty.
Abdulmojeed said that sustainable industrial harmony requires cooperation and a shared commitment to organisational goals, noting that both labour and management must work as partners to achieve lasting progress.