Simon Bako Lalong, the newly appointed Minister of Labour and Employment, has officially commenced his duties at the Ministry’s Headquarters in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja. He is resolute in his commitment to President Tinubu’s vision of fostering decent job opportunities for Nigerians while maintaining industrial harmony.

Upon his arrival at the Ministry, Lalong was warmly received by Minister of State Hon. Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve Nigeria under the President’s guidance, Lalong stated

“This is a call to service and we shall do everything within our power to give our best in assisting the President fulfill his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria. Nigerians have trusted President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima with their mandate, and therefore expect a better nation where their dreams and aspirations will be fulfilled”.

He said under his stewardship, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will fulfill its mandate of ensuring decent work for all Nigerians and making sure that the citizens particularly the youth and women get the opportunity to deploy their energy, creativity, talent and gifts to the development of the nation.

“Because of the level of unemployment, underemployment and challenges associated with the work environment, we have been mandated by Mr. President to ensure that Nigerians get decent employment and are adequately remunerated for their labour both in the public and private sectors. We shall not spare any effort to protect the Nigerian worker and guarantee his dignity at all times. This administration will therefore escalate the relations with the private sector, development partners, international agencies, NGOs among others to make sure that unemployment and underemployment is reduced to the barest minimum according to the plan of the Tinubu Administration” he said.

On the relationship with the organised Labour, he said the Government through the Ministry shall work closely with the NLC, TUC and their affiliates towards not only ensuring that all pending industrial disputes are settled amicably, but also addressing with strong determination the new minimum wage and other palliatives arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.

He used the opportunity to specially convey the appreciation of Mr. President to the organised labour and Nigerian workers in general for exercising tremendous understanding and patience with the current situation. The Government he said does not take this for granted and Mr. President has directed that they move on with negotiations to arrive at amicable resolutions that will make workers overcome the current pains.

Minister of State Labour and Employment Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha said the Ministry shall leverage initiate changes that will bring jobs and empower Nigerians who entrusted their confidence in the Tinubu/Shettima Ticket.

She challenged the Ministry and its Parastatals to rise up to the occasion and be ready for reaching out to the people at the grassroots especially by removing youths from the streets.

Mrs Juliana Adebambo, the Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary welcomed the Ministers to the ministry and said the entire staff and management re ready to give their all towards the success of the government.

She thereafter handed over the handover notes to the two Ministers.

Earlier, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Ignatius Ayau Kaigama has offered prayers at the Minister’s office.