There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may re-appoint former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Nwabueze Ngige to man the ministry he left about three months ago even as Organised Labour led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has warned against such a decision.
A source told our correspondent that following the predictability of President Buhari, most of the ministers, who served in the previous cabinet and have been nominated for the next one may eventually retain their former positions. The source said the President is not swayed by the sentiment in labour circles about whatever grudge organised labour may have with Ngige.
The Labour Movement on Monday warned the Federal Government against re-appointing Ngige as Minister of Labour and Employment in the next cabinet.
The Secretary of the NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson, gave this warning to the Federal Government, stressing that Government should assign Ngige to another ministry to avert industrial actions.
He said, “We think that government will be looking for problem if Ngige is returned to the Ministry of Labour and Employment as minister because he does not understand how the place works and his own approach will create unnecessary industrial crisis.“If government is properly advised, it should look for where to put him. Ngige is a square peg in a round hole in the ministry.”
Ngige had some unpleasant moments with labour leaders when he presided as Minister over his alleged delay in inaugurating the board of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) more than three years after the expiration of the tenure of the last board.
His altercation with labour leaders degenerated when the former Anambra state governor refused to make Frank Kokori the chairman of the NSITF board as demanded by labour. But Ngige maintained that his decision not to appoint Kokori was based on the NSITF Act.
The NLC then staged a protest against him in his house which led to fracas where some NLC were allegedly attacked by thugs hired by Ngige. President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who led the protest alleged that the thugs were sent by Ngige to attack NLC members, some of who were said to have been hospitalized.
The Presidency eventually intervened in the matter by declaring that the former Minister was right in his decision to the disappointment of labour leaders who had no option but to accept the bitter fait accompli.
Ngige also stirred the hornet’s nest, when he claimed in live television program that the mass migration of Nigerian medical doctors was nothing to worry about as Nigeria has more than enough doctors at home. This statement sparked nationwide outrage especially as the Nigerian Medical Association castigated him for not showing concern for the conditions that are driving Nigerian doctors to seek greener pastures abroad.
