The Management and staff of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), based in Ilorin, Kwara State, have been praised for their efforts in fostering industrial harmony through comprehensive training and capacity-building initiatives. The commendation was delivered by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, while receiving the “State of the Institute” report from the Director General of MINILS, Comrade Issa Aremu, in Abuja.

The report highlighted that despite budgetary constraints, MINILS successfully trained over 2,000 participants between January and November 2024. These trainees, drawn from both the public and private sectors, benefited from programmes delivered by the institution’s core departments, including Trade Union Education, Labour Management Relations, Academic and Distance Learning, Entrepreneurial Development, and Social Protection.

The Minister lauded the institute’s dedication to advancing labour and industrial relations as outlined in its enabling Act, underscoring its critical role in Nigeria’s economic stability and development.

According to the report, a total of 35 internal and external on-site and online Regular seminars and 21 In-plant/Tailor-made courses have been mounted for Trade Unions, Organized Private Sector firms, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government at all levels from almost all the geopolitical zones with labour market subjects that include, Labour laws and Employment Regulations, Organizing and Leadership Skills, Grievance and Conflict Resolution, Work Ethics and Values.

In addition, participants from the six geopolitical zones of the country attended the 47 training programmes implying that the MINILS has delivered on its national mandate of ensuring that participants enhance their competency, enable organizations to raise their productivity levels, and maintain cordial labour-management relations skills through social dialogue and collective bargaining which has, in turn, minimized avoidable strikes by unions and lockout by employers and governments.

The major highlight of the report is the MINILS Cost of Living Market Survey of February 2024 studies and analysis, which served as resource material for the peaceful negotiations of the 2024 National Minimum Wage by organized labor and the Federal government.

While commending MINILS for exceeding the deliverable target of 1,250 participants mark in 2024, the Labour Minister Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadias noted that many labour disputes are still preventable through education with qualified scholars in labour relations adding that MINILS like other agencies deserved adequate funding to align with the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. John Nyamali commended the Institute for reviving the annual Labour Summit.