The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said Nigerians will not die but will adjust to the economic hardships in the country.

The minister who in a statement issued on Sunday noted that economic hardships were not peculiar to Nigeria alone but to the world at large also noted that the agitation by workers for more wages was not peculiar to Nigeria.


Ngige described the trend as a worldwide phenomenon caused by global economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking after receiving the Business Day “Excellence in Public Service Award” in Abuja, the Minister noted that the labour sector world over faces threats from multiple and overlapping economic crises, giving rise to the clamour by workers for more wages.

He said: “The other day that I passed through Bailey, they said airport workers were on strike, only for four days. When I passed through London, the railway workers were on strike, only for three days. They are all demanding more pay.

“Workers’ demand for more pay is not peculiar to Nigeria but the problem everywhere in the world today as a result of global economic crunch, occasioned by COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and other things that make it look like everybody will die today.”

“We will not die today. We only have to adjust both as individuals and as a country in order to survive the crunch,” he said.

On how to stem the tide of perennial strikes in the country, Ngige said the International Labour Organization recognizes “social dialogue” as the best methodology for addressing industrial issues.

According to him, whether the problem is a demand for more wages or a quest for better conditions of service, once discussions commence on a round table, it must be given a social face.

He, however, regretted that in Nigeria, people choose to disobey the law, rather than do the right thing, while those who obey the laws and insist on due process were condemned as “odd”.

“In Nigeria, the man who implements the law is a very wicked and stingy man. He is seen as a man who does not understand what the law says. It is even worse in government.”

He warned that if Nigeria must make progress, people should not be made to look odd because they obey the laws of the land.

Ngige, however, expressed hope that Nigeria will make tremendous progress if Nigerians obey the laws and do the right things in all facets of their national life.

He thanked Business Day newspaper for finding him worthy, fit and proper for the award and assured that he would not let them down even after May 29, after which, he will no longer invoke the “No Work, No Pay” principle against those who want to go on strike.


Earlier, while presenting the award, the publisher of Business Day, Frank Aigbogun acknowledged Ngige’s meritorious service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We congratulate you for how you have distinguished yourself. We congratulate not just you but your team in the ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, directors and staff. We thank you so much for the service and proudly say that you are an example.”

https://punchng.com/Economic-hardship-Nigerians-wont-die-will-adjust-to-survive-Ngige

This dude is a mistake..

Someone who earns a salary of about one million naira monthly can't say he is feeling anything like someone earning 30k monthly.
Plus all the looting.
Minister of labour park well o.

This guy is insane for life.

Before the end of 8years coming..him go done chop the ones wey him save .

Cos it's expensive to maintain dis him present lifestyle

He is right. If you think he is wrong, then hundreds of millions of Nigerians would have died in the last 8 years under Buhari.

DSTV has adjusted by increasing their prices, transporters have adjusted, trader have adjusted. If you don't adjust, be ready to perish.

Nigerians deserves the leaders that they get.

Says a bad negotiator.

You could have used your position to fix ASUU problem but you are just a bad negotiator

Of course the poor have been adjusting and voting criminals from time immemorial.

Mehn!!
These people don see us finish,
Can you imagine the effrontery

See wetin this clueless minister of Labour dey talk about here. Nigerians don enter one chance.

After countless souls have lost their lives in the 8 miserable years of APC reignship? This Ngige forever remain an idiot. May karma visit him for this insulting statement to millions of families that have lost loved ones.

Heartless leaders. Just imagine what this man is saying.

No Wonder sadeast is in a state of dispair . Look what a Leader of a people clamouting for good govt is saying. We really dodged an ICBM in Obi.

The best the ibo can put forward to serve
And they still want us to accept obiageli

Lol well I can't blame him he came from a region where Govt is nothing to Dem if derr Governors are clueless they will rather Blame the FG and Governor from other region nd also run away to the states they hate so much to go earn a living derr...

Lol

Na tribalism dey cause nonsense, if not how can Nigeria still vote in APC to make people like him keep talking trash.

adenigga:

https://punchng.com/Economic-hardship-Nigerians-wont-die-will-adjust-to-survive-Ngige

MasterJayJay:
He is right. If you think he is wrong, then hundreds of millions of Nigerians would have died in the last 8 years under Buhari.

DSTV has adjusted by increasing their prices, transporters have adjusted, trader have adjusted. If you don't adjust, be ready to perish.

Right when coke becomes 500 naira beer 2000 bread 100 naira for 300 naira

The zombie u are will adjust shey, cause that's all 9jas do adjust.

What a statement!!!

Chai Nigerians sorryoo...this country is blessed with abundance wealth but cursed with 60percent of wicked, greedy and selfish people .then from this majority leaders are selected...and what the minister said is from that selfish point of view...the masses will struggle to survive while the politicians will ball with unexplained wealth and the masses will still support those who looted their future dry...Nigeria I hail u

God, well I survived buharis regime for 8yrs, so bring it on I will still survive. This country is gone.

donbachi:
Before the end of 8years coming..him go done chop the ones wey him save .

Cos it's expensive to maintain dis him present lifestyle

These people can never go broke, them don steal extra keep.

Thunder wey go kill this man still dey trek from Auchi..

GeneralPula:
This dude is a mistake..

the whole APC is a deadly mistake.

APC is evil

The worst minister in Buhari's cabinet.

Ara21:


These people can never go broke, them don steal extra keep.

anybody when don see over ordinary 100m when stl go broke na mad person.me sef as I small reach I no fit broke again.

Lol, one thing Nigerian politician understood is that the people are incapable of holding them to account for their action, just so you know this is how an average leader in your country thinks. They will screw things up for you, you will wine and complain or even curse them but ultimately you will do absolutely nothing to them.

This is an Insensitive and callous statement.
Instead of telling your man to take actions to ease the suffering of Nigerians.