The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenge.
On Monday before the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity, chaired by Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau), Dingyadi emphasised that combating unemployment remains the ministry’s top priority.
Dingyadi, who has been in office for three months, stated, “We have been tirelessly addressing unemployment in the ministry because it is our key assignment.
“All the skill development programmes we are implementing are aimed at tackling unemployment. This is our major responsibility, and we are determined to address this issue comprehensively.”
When asked about the current unemployment statistics, Dingyadi admitted he did not have specific figures. “I don’t want to provide figures I am not sure of. However, I assure you that we have these statistics.
“Our parastatals and agencies are working tirelessly on this issue, and we will coordinate and present accurate data to this committee soon,” he said.
Dingyadi further pledged transparency, promising to make the figures public once finalised. “I know members of this committee are serious and intelligent, and they will scrutinise the data when presented,” he added.
Sen. Diket Plang commended the ministry’s efforts and lauded President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to improving the welfare of Nigerian workers.
He highlighted the implementation of the new national minimum wage, enacted on April 1, 2024, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to workers’ well-being.
“Our slightly increased budget allocation for the ministry will further support efforts to ensure decent work and promote employment opportunities. This will also enforce fair compensation for all workers, both in the public and private sectors,” he noted.
