By Ovie Adasaji
Member representing Etinan /Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), Akwa Ibom State Council to prioritise training and retraining for it members to meet up with changing times.
Luke gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the 2021 NLC State Level School held at the Workers’ Solidarity Centre in Uyo, when he presented a keynote address on the theme : Skills Development: Reshaping Union’s Policy, Strategies and Actions for Sustainability of the Workplace.
The lawmaker told NLC that world of work is undergoing a major process of change. According to him; “There are several forces transforming it, from the onward march of technology and the impact of climate change to the impact of demographic changes in economics and employment”
“There is a new reality of unprecedented, transformative change in the world of work. This transformative change will only excite the people who are sustainable thinkers and are ready to grow with the growth of the future”
“On the other hand, this reality will only intimidate those who are unprepared for the future and who live only for the now. It is my belief that this chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress will be among the excited class in this conversation”.
He called on workers to be innovative if they must remain relevant. “We must go beyond the easy by constantly disengaging from the norm. We must have a deep reflection and reshape our tools to stand a chance in this exciting future by developing a plan for sustainable growth” Luke said.
Luke tasked the NLC to be an active participant in the technology-driven knowledge economy by re-skilling and retraining their workforce in Information Technology.
“Labour Leaders can develop competencies in global labour issues by being regular participants of the trainings at the International Labour Institute. These trainings will afford them an opportunity to learn better how to play their role in protecting, defending and promoting workers’ rights and interests effectively and consistently with knowledge of their rights, where these rights are defined, how they are violated, who violates them, and the remedies available”, Luke added.
The 2021 NLC State Level School was declared open by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel who was represented by the Secretary to State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekwuwem.The Head of Service, Effiong Essien, Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Sunny Ibuot, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong and representatives of the Commissioner for Education were among the government officials at the event.
