The Director General of Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour studies ( MINILS) Ilorin has commended the Labour record of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with respect to mass job creation , job security, regular payment of salaries and work place dispute resolutions in the past years .
Comrade Issa AREMU gave this commendation in Ilorin on Sunday while interacting with the media as part of the activities marking his 65th birthday.
The Director General recalled that more than any other presidential candidates, Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu in 2022 mainstreamed labour in his reform agenda with a whole Directorate to engage with organized labour.
He recalled that candidate Tinubu promised an administration that would make fiscal and monetary policies work for the workers and Nigerians so they can have a good life adding that true to his promise, President Bola Tinubu has come in fullest of time as an audacious reformer/Presdent in the last two years.
Aremu observed that while reactions to reforms are “understandably mixed” with “reform enthusiasts” in support and “reform “pessimists” in doubt, the initiated far reaching social and economic reforms within the framework of the comprehensive Renewed Hope Agenda have impacted “more positively on the labour market”.
JOB CREATION AND JOB SECURITY
According to him, First “positive” impact of the reform is the enhanced public job security. “Fuel subsidy removal commendably frees up massive government funds for Federal, states and local government. “Downsizing” and “retrenchment” of federal jobs, were common features of past reforms (notably under President Olusegun Obasanjo,). On the contrary. Renewed Hope reform agenda is intentionally job- led and job protective. Approximately federal 720,000 public servants have their paid jobs secured.
He cited the establishment of new public service institutions such as federal tertiary institutions, ministries of livestock and regional development commissions that have created new thousand of jobs. National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), initiative provides interest-free loans to students for higher education, already impacted on millions of beneficiaries. National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC): with an initial capital of ₦100 billion to de-risk lending for financial institutions, expanding access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). There is also the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP):with new expanded mandate for Nigerians to access consumer credit . President Tinubu in 2024 also approved the automatic employment of 774 National Health Fellows, (one from each local government area in Nigeria ) aimed at fostering improvement within Nigeria’s healthcare system and advancing universal health coverage. “
In addition Aremu pointed to “scores of Legacy road projects, including Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Saharan Highway (Calabar-Abakaliki-etc.), Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Expressway, focusing on reinforced concrete for durability and incorporating rail tracks, aiming to unlock economic corridors and ensure equitable development across all zones, which have created thousands of jobs. “The much debated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project offers “the possibilities of 10,000 direct jobs(engineers, construction workers) to 20,000-25,000 combined direct and indirect jobs(suppliers, logistics) during construction, plus many more induced jobs from increased economic activity, potentially benefiting over 30 million citizens by boosting trade, tourism, and connectivity across Nigeria’s coast” .
Beyond construction sector, Aremu observed that more jobs have been created in the real manufacturing sector. “The reforms in downstream sectors that include Naira-for-Crude Policy where the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) sells crude oil to local refineries in Naira, not dollars, aiming to reduce forex demand, stabilize the Naira, and boost local refining to meet domestic fuel needs, leading to more secured jobs, lower pump prices and energy self-sufficiency.
Dangote Refinery is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs, with estimates ranging from 8,000 to over 100,000 direct and indirect roles, including 24,000 jobs from its CNG truck rollout, and significant numbers during construction, with plans to expand further. No private sector investment has boosted mass local employment like Dangote refinery in recent years. “
PAYMENT OF SALARIES
The Director General further disclosed that “The Second positive is the prompt regular payment of salaries. 2025 witnessed the implementation of the Presidential wage award to federal workers for six months and cash transfer to some millions of the poorest and most vulnerable in response to protests by organized labour on the adverse impact of reform, with respect to inflation and devaluation. Last year significantly recorded the implementation of the enacted 2024 National Minimum Wage Act of N70,000 after an intense 6 month long tripartite (plus) collective bargaining.
Most States hitherto notorious for delayed and no payment of salaries at all are now revenue/allocations secured, meeting regular salaries obligations. In 2025, a significant number of states paid above the legal national minimum wage of N70,000: Lagos (N85k with plans for N100,000) Rivers (N85k), Oyo (N80k), Akwa Ibom (N80k), and Anambra (N102k), Imo State, ₦104,000, Edo State ₦75,000. Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu: Around N80,000.
States Paying N70,000 – N80,000: Ogun: N77,000. Katsina: N80,600.Ebonyi: Around N95,000/N70,000. Kogi: N72,500 (tax-free for a year).Gombe: N71,451.15.” he disclosed
Notwithstanding the above acknowledged benefits , Aremu observed that 2025 witnessed he observed a number of labour disputes and strikes notably in education and health sectors adding that Most of the disputes are manifestations of crisis of compensation arising from non- payment of agreed earnings /allowances , disregard of collective agreements. He recalled On October 13, 2025, the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) went on a two-weeks warning strike. Teachers pointed to non-implementation of the 25/35% wage increase effective from January 2023 to December 2024. And 2009 agreement.
National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had indefinite strike on November 29, after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of the MoU with the government. The doctors again threatened to resume over disputed
MoU committed the association’s demands that included the reinstatement of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of promotion and salary arrears; and the full implementation of the professional allowance table, with arrears captured in the 2026 budget among others.
In addition to income insecurity,Aremu said generalized national security threatened jobs and lives in 2025. Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) he recalled on Wednesday took to the streets in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu to protest worsening insecurity across the country, demanding urgent government action to curb violent crimes and kidnappings.
“The most spectacular labour disputes of 2025 centered on the Dangote Refinery’s alleged resistance to unionization, leading to significant strikes by NUPENG/NLC that threatened fuel supply, alongside broader union action against the government’s new industrial policy and economic hardship, with ongoing legal battles and conciliation efforts defining the landscape. Key issues included alleged anti-union practices at Dangote, the right to organize, worker dismissals, and demands for better living conditions, prompting government intervention and court cases. He commend the Federal Ministers of Labour for their prompt interventions in managing in notable labour crisis.
TAKING LABOUR SERIOUS IN 2026
The Director General said all the above point to the urgent need to take labour and labour issues more serious in 2026. “Labour creates wealth through other critical success factors there fore Labour must be consciously motivated in return for labour productivity and workplace discipline, “
MORE BUDGET FOR THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LABOUR
In the new year it’s imperative more budgets are allocated to Ministry of Labour to meet the challenges of labour motivation and productivity. And more resources for labour market institutions like MINILS, NDE, IAP and NPC
Aremu however observed that while employers and government must take labour serious, organized labour must also take take itself serious by improved productivity, corruption avoidance and above all , avoidance of mutually disruptive work stoppages by embracing collective bargaining and social dialogue.