The Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, is developing a national policy on industrial relations to address challenges in the industrial sector. Dingyadi, represented by Mr. Falonipe Amos at the 29th Annual National Management/Industrial Relations Seminar in Asaba, Delta State, revealed that the government is also working on new sectoral guidelines aimed at tackling issues like outsourcing and casualization, which have affected many workers across critical sectors of the economy.
The seminar highlighted the significant struggles faced by the chemical and non-metallic products sector, with the National President of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN), Mr. Segun David, reporting that 28 companies in the sector have shut down this year. David attributed these closures to a combination of challenges, including adverse monetary policies, high import costs, and an unstable power supply. He expressed concern over the impact of these issues on productivity and job losses, while also criticizing the government’s failure to address multiple taxation effectively.
David also called for a minimum entry salary of N140,500 for senior staff in the sector and urged management within the association to comply. He emphasized that a task force has been set up to ensure adherence and warned companies against defaulting. Despite the government’s promises of tax reliefs for food-based imports, David noted that these had led to only higher prices, exacerbating the financial strain on workers. Dingyadi, in his address, commended the seminar’s efforts to foster dialogue on workers’ welfare and productivity, urging all stakeholders to develop actionable recommendations to improve the sector’s conditions.
