The federal government has proposed a mandatory eight weeks course at the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) for all newly elected labour leaders in the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, stated this Monday, during the budget defence of his ministry and parastatals before the House of Representatives Committee on Labour.
A statement signed by head, Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun, said the training is necessary to acquaint the labour leaders with the laws guiding trade unionism and trade dispute resolution in the country, along with the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
He added that the mandatory training would also enable the unions to know the limits of their powers and where the powers of their employers stop.
The minister said some union leaders were disobeying his ministry and even the labour laws of the country, because they lacked the basic training on the laws and their application.
He said: “You know a lot of people who answer labour and union leaders are not trained in the labour laws of the country, including those who are professors. They disrespect labour laws. They disrespect the labour ministry, labour committees and everybody.
“So, we want to upgrade MINILS and make it mandatory that once you are elected as comrade president or secretary general or whatever, you must go there for a course that will last not less than eight weeks, to get certificated.”
