President Bola Tinubu says social dialogues on labour reforms are necessary for Nigeria’s development.

Mr Tinubu stated this at the 10th National Labour Conference and Awards Ceremony organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin.

The president, represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasised the importance of dialogue and skill development in fostering industrial harmony and national growth.

Pointing to the critical role of social dialogue in implementing labour reforms and resolving industrial disputes, Mr Tinubu cited the successful resolution of the National Minimum Wage discussions.

Mr Tinubu explained that the Labour Employment Expansion Programme (LEEP) focuses on equipping Nigerians, particularly youths, with skills for emerging industries such as digital technology, renewable energy and clean energy.

The president described the conference as a crucial platform to secure stakeholders’ buy-in for government reforms and called for collective efforts to create an inclusive and sustainable labour market.

He commended MINILS for organising the event and encouraged participants to contribute actively to the discussions, noting that the outcomes would shape the future of labour relations in Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, the director-general of MINILS, Issa Aremu, described the event as a significant platform for fostering dialogue among stakeholders and building capacity for continuous engagement.

He said the goal was to align labour education with the Renewed Hope Agenda reforms.

He disclosed that MINILS had surpassed its 2024 ministerial targets by training more than 3,500 workers from the formal and informal sectors across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.

(NAN)