FG Moves To Foster Industrial Relations In MDAs

A one-day sensitization workshop for Directors of Human Resources and Union Leaders from various Ministries and Extra Ministerial Departments has been held in Abuja to foster sustainable peace and productivity within the Federal Civil Service.

The workshop organized by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, was aimed at bridging communication gaps and strengthening the collaborative framework between top management and the organized labour.

At the occasion, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack stated that the initiative was timely, given recurring industrial tensions rooted in miscommunication and procedural disregard.

Mrs Walson-Jack who was represented by the
Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, explained that a pivotal outcome would be an official signing of the newly developed “Guidelines for Engagement between Management and Labour Unions in MDAs.”

According to her, “Unionism is a legitimate platform for protecting workers’ rights,” “However, its success hinges on professionalism, mutual respect, and strict compliance with the established rules of the public service.

She said, the workshop underscores our commitment to institutionalizing a culture of dialogue and shared responsibility.”

Also, the President of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Shehu Mohammed, commended the OHCSF for the initiative and described the workshop and the new guidelines as “a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to improving industrial relations and maintaining a peaceful, productive, and accountable civil service.”

The participants were exposed to Understanding the Legal Framework of Industrial Relations in the Public Service., Professional Navigation of the Dispute Resolution Process, Promoting Constructive Unionism through Ethics, Accountability, and Communication.
The newly signed guidelines, developed in collaboration with JNPSNC, and other stakeholders, are designed to institutionalize professionalism, transparency, and fairness in all union-management interactions.

The document is intended to serve as a living framework, open to review as the service evolves.

PR Florence Adewale