The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has said that his ministry is actively implementing a range of policy and institutional reforms to provide good governance and improve the various components of its labour administration in line with international best practices.
Dingyadi stated this on Wednesday during his address at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Represented at the event by the ministry’s Zonal Director, South West, Meye Badijo, Dingyadi mentioned that some of the reforms include, strengthening the legal and policy frameworks for occupational safety and health, improving national productivity, institutionalising social dialogue, “mainstreaming gender inclusivity, enhancing labor inspection and compliance systems, and extending social protection for vulnerable workers.”
“At the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment, we are actively implementing a range of policy and institutional reforms to provide good governance and improve the various components of our labor administration in line with international best practices,” Dingyadi said.
He maintained that these reforms are at the heart of the principles of social dialogue, adding that the ministry counts on NECA’s continued partnership to ensure the success story for the common good of the nation.
According to him, Nigeria is undergoing far-reaching reforms across key sectors aimed at revitalising the economy, strengthening institutions, and creating an enabling environment for investment and enterprise.
Speaking on the programme, he stressed that the event was more than a routine AGM, describing it as a platform for strategic reflection, renewed collaboration, and shared commitment to national development.
Dingyadi emphasised the ministry’s unwavering commitment to strengthening collaboration with NECA and the broader employer community to promote decent work, entrepreneurship, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable enterprise development in Nigeria.
He stated that it is always a pleasure to engage with the private sector, especially under the auspices of respected organisations such as NECA, which has consistently demonstrated leadership as a collective and organised voice of employers in our country.
The minister pointed out that over the years, NECA has played a critical role in shaping economic policy, fostering industrial harmony, and championing the cause of responsible business practices.
“Your contributions to national development through policy advocacy, job creation, and promotion of social dialogue remain not only commendable but indispensable to our collective progress towards achieving a sound labor administration system in Nigeria,” Dingyadi stressed.
He reiterated that NECA’s constructive engagements, evidence-based policy inputs, and commitment to the capacity building and growth of constituents are vital to attaining national goals.
Dingyadi highlighted that as key drivers of the economy, employers have a central role in building a productive, innovative, and resilient workforce.
Earlier, the President of NECA, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, commended the Federal Government for enacting the Nigerian Tax Act 2024, stressing that NECA particularly acknowledge the act’s business-friendly provisions, “including the phased reduction of Company Income Tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent, the consolidation of over 50 minor taxes, tax relief for small businesses earning below N50m annually, and the exemption of essential commodities from Value Added Tax.”
He urged the government to ensure full and effective implementation of the act to realise tangible improvements in the cost of doing business. Okoye added that NECA, alongside the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, will continue to engage with the government to protect businesses from regulatory overreach and preserve a conducive operating environment.
