Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has signed an Executive Order for the establishment of the Labour and Industrial Committee, followed by the inauguration of an eleven-man team for its operations
Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the signing of Executive Order 2, which was followed by the inauguration of the State Labour and Industrial Committee and the State Bureau of Statistics at the Executive Council Chambers, Eno said the order was necessary to give credence and impetus to the committee while working assiduously on a legislative process to institute a law to fully empower the labour committee at the state level.
The Labour and Industrial Committee has Nse Essien as Chairman, with Udo Kierian Akpan, Mmakim Antai, Nse Ntuen, Ekerette Ekoenyong, Sunday Etor Isokobo, Ubong Udo Uquang, Abraham Odion, and Uwemedimo Udoh, as well as the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning as members.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development will serve as Secretary of the committee.
“So by that order, we have established the Akwa Ibom State Labour and Industrial Committee. This Executive Order will give the impetus for this committee to do work,” the Governor said.
For the Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Statistics Board, Elder Nse Ekefre was inaugurated as Chairman, with Godwin Mbang Timothy, Enefiok Peter, Otuikor Joyce Mizpah, and Emmanuel John Ekpenyong as members, while the Commissioners for Economic Development and Finance, the Chairman of the Statistical Association of Nigeria, and the Statistician General of the State will serve as Ex Officio members.
Inaugurating the Labour and Industrial Committee, the Governor said their mandate includes fostering harmony in labour-related matters, promoting industrial relations in the State, and liaising with the Federal Ministry of Labour and other federal agencies to ensure that the employment quota for the State is duly utilised.
He said the committee shall also work to ascertain the number of oil and gas, as well as servicing companies operating on and off the shores of the state and within its territorial boundaries, to track revenue accruals and employment for youths in the state; and to ensure that all companies comply with the local content provision of the Petroleum Act 2021 in all ramifications and also ascertain the number of Akwa Ibom State indigenes employed by them.
He stressed that the committee does not in any way replace the Ministry of Labour and Productivity but will have to work collaboratively with the ministries to aid the discharge of its duties, adding that similar committees in the various local governments will have to liaise with the Labour Committee at the state level to ensure adequate coordination.
“We need to ensure that we create jobs for our young people, and we are determined to ensure that we work with all of the oil companies to know and have access to their data on how many of our people they have employed and the level of employment. We are not going to take over their employment, but we are saying just show us and let us have the correct records.
“No more will our youths graduate and carry their certificates around while the companies here import workers into our state, and our young professionals and graduates don’t have anything to do. I am sure the bill will address that effectively.
“All local government labour committees are directed to work closely with your committee to achieve synergy and optimal efficiency,” the governor said.
The Bureau of Statistics Board, on the other hand, will be expected to provide updated information to the public, enhance transparency and informed decision-making, and be responsible for collating accurate and real-time data on key government initiatives and programmes, as well as their impact on the population.
This, the governor said, will help in the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of government programmes on citizens and aid strategic adjustments where necessary to attain improved outcomes, as well as mitigate the occurrences of some unknown persons spinning unfounded data on some social issues, which end up placing inappropriate labels on the state.
Additionally, the Governor announced plans to appoint delivery advisors for specific state projects. This move, according to him, aims to streamline bureaucratic processes and ensure the timely completion of projects before the end of his tenure.
He described 2025 as a “year of consolidation,” urging commissioners to be prepared to actively support the implementation of the ARISE Agenda and avoid hindering progress.
The Chairman of the Labour and Industrial Committee, Elder Nse Essien, and his State Bureau of Statistics Board counterpart, Nse Ekefre, fielding questions from reporters, expressed gratitude for the opportunities to serve the State and affirmed the commitments of their teams to deliver on the assigned responsibilities to enhance the actualisation of the ARISE Agenda.
