Council Strategises On Harmonious Labour-Govt Relationship
5 min read
Edith CHUKU
The Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, has resolved that only transparency and trust can foster the desired harmonious relationship between labour and the government.
According to them, transparency and trust would enhance efficiency, facilitate open communication and promote constructive conflict resolution.
This resolution was reached at the 2024 Meetings of the Council, held at the Presidential Hotel Port Harcourt, chaired by Dr. Comfort Adeosun, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office SWO, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation OHCSF.
The three days programme which started on Monday, October 28 and ended Wednesday 30, focused on ways to build harmoniuos industrial relation between labour and the government.
The theme of the event which had 100 delegates from the Trade Union Side TUS, and 44 delegates from the government side, was, “Building Trust For Sustained Peaceful Labour Relations.”
The meeting featured an official opening by the Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
Other highlights of the programme were presentation of eleven new memoranda, Councils session one, two, three and joint council, deliberations and presentation of communique.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the event, the chairman, Dr. Comfort Adeosun commended the Rivers State governor for what she described as his overwhelming support to the success of the meetings.
Adeosun also appreciated the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for her exemplary leadership, support and commitment to uphold industrial harmony for improved service delivery.
To the attendees, she said, “thank you for the time you have spent here for the last three days we’ve been discussing on what it takes to move the country forward and also improve the labour relations with the government which has been very robust.
“Looking at the theme for this year, “building Trust For Sustained Peaceful Labour Relations” we’ve been able to look at it together and we’ve been able to demonstrate the importance of trust.
“One of the things we were able to look at in the first place was what is actually trust. We were able to tell ourselves that when we add trust in a place it improves the performance of any organization because when there is trust it’s a glue that is going to hold both the government side and the labour side together in a good relationship.”
The Director hinted that, “trust also facilitates open communication and it promotes constructive conflict resolution and encourages collective problem solving which I have seen us demonstrate here.
“Look we looked at yesterday the benefit of trust to an organization or every relationship. In this case we are talking about harmonious industrial relation between the labour side and the government side.
“We’ve talked about the benefit of incorporating Communication and collaboration so that we don’t have to go on strikes. By the time we come to the negotiation table which we have done in these three days we are able to come with resolutions that is going to be submitted to the labour side and to the government side. In that case we continue to build trust.
“Also, we have talked about trust enhancing productivity, efficiency and high quality performance because you can attest to the fact that the labour workforce in Nigeria are still one of the best in the whole world.
“Also we talked about better conflict resolution and dispute”Thank you for the time you have spent here for the last three days we’ve been discussing on what it takes to move the country forward and also improve the labour relations with the government which has been very robust.”
Looking at the theme, “building Trust For Sustained Peaceful Labour Relations” Adeosun noted that, “one of the things we were able to look at in the first place was what is actually trust. We were able to tell ourselves that when we add trust in a place it improves the performance of any organization because when there is trust it’s a glue that is going to hold both the government side and the labour side together in a good relationship.
“Trust also facilitates open communication and it promotes constructive conflict resolution and encourages collective problem solving which I have seen us demonstrate here. We’ve talked about the benefit of incorporating Communication and collaboration so that we don’t have to go on strikes. By the time we come to the negotiation table which we have done in these three days we are able to come with resolutions that is going to be submitted to the labour side and to the government side. In that case we continue to build trust.
“Also, we have talked about trust enhancing productivity, efficiency and high quality performance because you can attest to the fact that the labour workforce in Nigeria are still one of the best in the whole world because given the right platform and the right work environment labour perform their duties as they have been told to do.
“Also we talked about better conflict resolution and dispute management and increased employee engagement and retention management and increased employee engagement and retention, yes we are in a system, in an environment where the “JAPA” syndrome is reigning but when there is trust and also a renumeration for the current workforce, it’s going to attract them back to the country to support its growth. As well as the importance, benefit of improved reputation and social responsibility. When we come together, the labour present their issues on the table, the government side also comes in and we have our discussions and then we come to an agreement, it improves social responsibility and in that case trust is also entrenched in the system.”
She added that trust, transparency can bring about the peaceful co-existence between the labour and the government.
“Consistency in our communication, we have resolved that that is going to be ongoing as we are talking about fairness and empathy and accountability to improve both the health, well being and also the productivity of the civil servants.
“On this note I want to also say that not just for the federal, the purpose for this National Joint Union Negotiation Council is for both the state and the federal
level.”
On his part, the President of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC, Trade Union Side TUS, Mr. Benjamin Anthony, expressed satisfaction over the dialogue and assured that the industrial peace needed to move Nigeria forward would be achieved for Nigeria to experience a great industrial harmony.
