Federal Government Inaugurates Committee on Industrial Relations in the Power sector.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, 

The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a Technical Working Group to develop operational guidelines on industrial relations in the power sector.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said industrial peace and harmony were critical to the realisation of the transformation in the power sector.

He said the TWG would ensure that industrial peace was achieved in the sector.

“It is pertinent to know that the essence of this occasion is to reflect on the state of industrial relations in the power sector.

“It’s to chart new ways of ensuring industrial peace and harmony which are critical to the realisation of the Transformation Agenda.

“However, the restricting attendant on the privatisation exercise had given rise to new employment relationships that need to be understood by the social partners.

“This is also to ensure fair labour practice and decent work in our work places.

“The TWG became necessary towards ensuring peace and harmony amongst social partners in this critical sector,” he said.

Wogu said the committee, among others, was expected to make recommendations on the application of the eight core international labour conventions.

He said that it was also to consider and make recommendations on the concerns of the social partners, including the issue of casualisation and contract staffing in the reformed power sector.

This, according to him, is with a view to producing a workable industrial relations guideline in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministries of Labour and Productivity , Power, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Selected Core Investors, National Union of Electricity Employees as well as the Senior Staff Association of Electricity Employees and Allied Companies.

Others include representatives of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

The committee has three months to submit its report.

Source - Punch