Labour Minister Emeka Wogu has in Abuja expressed his determination to actualise the National Policy on Productivity.

Wogu made the declaration while declaring open a two-day in-house seminar organised for professional officers in the ministry.

He said that the policy would assist in creating a conducive environment for employment generation, labour protection and productivity enhancement.

The minister added that the policy would guarantee social security, industrial peace and harmony.

Wogu noted that the two-day seminar was a prelude to the actualisation of the policy, adding that its implementation would help to address the current low ranking of Nigeria in the global productivity scale.

“Nigeria’s current low ranking in the global productivity scale and competitive index presents a formidable challenge in our pursuit of being one of the 20 most developed economies by the year 2020.

“The policy is therefore aimed at bridging the strategic gap and to compliment government’s effort at effectively mobilising, directing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating on a continuous basis, the human, material and natural resources,” he said.

Wogu commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNIDO for their collaborative efforts in making sure that the outcome of the seminar was implemented.

He also commended other stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for their roles toward implementing the policy.

Mr Dennis Zulu of the ILO Country office in Abuja commended the effort of the ministry toward setting up a new productivity paradigm for Nigeria.

“The holding of this seminar and the recent establishment of a full-fledged productivity department bears evidence of the ministry’s commitment toward taking leadership in installing a new productivity paradigm for Nigeria,” Zulu said.

Zulu noted that skills acquisition was a prerequisite for improved productivity, adding that the initiative would contribute positively toward achieving the transformation agenda and the attainment of Vision 20:20:20.

He, however, called on the ministry to work toward ensuring enabling policy, regulatory environment and the promotion of decent work environment for workers, rather than concentrating on skills acquisition.

Zulu called on the ministry to conduct research, make change in work ethics and overhaul the entire process in the work place for accelerated productivity.

He expressed ILO’s determination to support the ministry in the implementation of the project.

“The ILO, therefore, looks forward to supporting the Ministry of Labour and Productivity within the framework of the decent Work Country Programme as it moves ahead with this noble initiative.”

On his part, the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Mr Paul Bdliya, called on participants to exchange ideas on ways of ensuring the enhancement of workers’ productivity in Nigeria.