Ngige tasks new minister, Ocheni, on 2018 budget

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator. Chris Ngige, has expressed confidence in the new Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, on his solid accounting background, which he said the ministry will leverage to deliver effective services to the people.

He said that the Ministry would rely on him to improve and deliver on its 2018 budget.

Ngige said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director Press, during the assumption of office of the minister of state in Abuja.

“I am particularly pleased that you are an accountant; and that will remove the load from me in the area of budgeting. “ You will take charge of the 2018 budgeting, which we are about to start so that our budgeting system will improve, I made it better when I came, you can make it to become best. “I am optimistic that by God’s grace, you will put in your best and uplift this Ministry and the Nigeria nation at large,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that his ministry was one of the oldest ministries in Nigeria, dating back to 1927, as colonial department. He also said that the ministry was a challenging one that had been manned by prominent Nigerians in the past.

“It is our pleasure to welcome the new minister of state into our fold, your deployment as Minister of State Labour and Employment gives credence to your credibility as a renowned academia and astute bureaucrat”, he said.

Responding, Ocheni expressed his commitment to bring his knowledge and experience to bear on his responsibilities towards the attainment of the objective of the ministry and the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“At this particular time, I want to assure you all that I will do my best using my knowledge and experience to contribute my quota to the attainment of the objective of this ministry. “I am not a unionist, but an advocate of peace and harmony.

“ But, it is important to achieve a peaceful industrial climate without which the goal of the ministry and that of the present administration cannot be achieved,” he said.
Ocheni also said the ministry was the epicentre of peace in the workforce of this country, adding that, “Therefore, there is need for all hands to be on deck for the achievements of its mandate so that at the end of the day it will be able to improve on the overall productivity of the country. “That is why improved productivity is pivotal to the Change Agenda of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. “If we are able to achieve this desired goal, then, we will be able to contribute and enhance the Gross Domestic Product of this country. “By so doing, we are also contributing to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government.”

Ocheni called on all the workers of the ministry to put in their best to ensure that the ministry realise its mandate.

On his part, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Omoniyi Fagbemi assured the minister of state of the support and collaboration of all members of staff toward delivering on the mandate of the ministry.