By Nefishetu Yakubu
Abuja, Feb. 12, 2026 (NAN) Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi, has commended the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity for its consistent oversight and support in strengthening labour administration and industrial harmony.
Dingyadi gave the commendation while defending his ministry’s 2026 budget before the committee on Labour on Thursday in Abuja.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continued guidance and unwavering support which, he said, had strengthened reforms in the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister presented an overview of the ministry’s mandate, emphasising its central role in promoting socio-economic stability, employment growth, labour regulations, industrial peace and productivity.
He outlined the ministry’s responsibilities to include: Employment generation, labour market regulation, industrial relations management, dispute resolution, enforcement of labour standards, factory safety oversight and decent work promotion.
“Additional mandates cover skills development, trade testing, workforce planning, labour migration governance, administration of international obligations, cooperation with multilateral institutions, and promotion of mobility frameworks,” he said.
On the 2025 budget performance, he said, funding challenges had intensified, with a capital allocation of N5.103 billion and warrants issues of N403 million, representing 7.9 per cent.
He added that capital warrants had remained without cash backing, while overhead allocation of N1.323 billion recorded releases of N769.553 million, indicating performance of 58.15 per cent.
“The severe shortfall in capital releases caused delays and rollbacks in employment and skills programmes, hindered rehabilitation of facilities and limited factory inspection enforcement coverage.
“In spite of the constraints, the ministry prioritised labour dispute resolution, workplace safety monitoring, factory inspections, employment facilitation services, trade testing certifications, and strengthened bilateral labour migration engagements,” he added.
The minister explained that the absence of capital funding prevented thf deployment of financial instruments, large-scale employment interventions and expansion of international commitments throughout the 2025 fiscal year.
He warned that Nigeria risked suspension from African Regional Labour Administration Centre due to outstanding statutory contributions, urging interventions to address the mounting obligations.
Thf Chairman of the committee, Diket Plang, assured the minister of its support to ensure adequate funding for the ministry.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
NY/WAS/BRM
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Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq/Bashir Rabe Mani
