By JOAN NWAGWU

The Federal Government has reaffirmed that the new National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) does not criminalise workers’ embarking on strikes to press home their demands.

Mr Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Labour and Employment, said this during a media chat with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls the new NIRP 2025, was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

NAN reports that the organised labour and its affiliates have continued to express their dissatisfaction and rejection of the new policy.

Dingyadi, however, said that, contrary to the position of labour, the NIRP will facilitate uninterrupted workflow, foster effective social dialogue, and promote tripartite cooperation among government, employers, and workers.

The minister said it was not true that the federal government was bringing up a policy that would criminalise strikes in the country.

“Some people are just misconstruing or misunderstanding this policy. There is no intention to use that policy to prevent workers from going on strike.

“In fact, it is there to ensure that there is peace and cordial relationship among partners, government and employees.

“The policy is emphasising on dialogue and there is no way we can prevent workers from going on strike,” he said.

The minister recalled that some workers embarked on a warning strike the previous week, without encumbrance from the government.

On job creation, he said that the ministry is doing a lot to shift from old generation skills development to modern technology, encouraging training in the ICT, AI, to enhance skills.

Dingyadi said that the ministry is also making effort to sign Memorandum of Understanding with different countries such as Saudi Arabia, UK, United States on jobs creation for the youths. (NAN)