Support private sector to save jobs - Shehu Sani tells FG

Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, has urged the Federal Government to support the private sector so as to save jobs.

With the coronavirus pandemic not having any end in sight and jobs threatened in Nigeria, the Federal Government has told employers to obtain a permit before sacking their workers.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

“All relevant factors to the nation’s workforce will be identified, analysed, and solidified to ensure job retention and the continued realization of the decent work agenda,” he said.

“In doing this, we will be guided by the labour standards as benchmarks for social and employment protection at this time of vulnerabilities.

“Along this line, talks are currently ongoing between the Presidential Economic Sustainability Council and Employers on job protection and even job creation at this time and progressively to post Covid-19 crisis.

“I wish to state that employers will not be encouraged to disengage staff without prerequisite Social Dialogue and clearance from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.”

In reaction, Shehu Sani stated that such statements from the government are contrary to what they should be doing.

"The Government should fully engage and device ways of supporting the Private sector to save millions of jobs, rather than issuing statements to stop imminent layoffs resulting from the shutdowns", he tweeted.

The Government should fully engage and device ways of supporting the Private sector to save millions of Jobs,rather than issuing statements to stop imminent layoffs resulting from the shutdowns.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 5, 2020