The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has pledged the government’s commitment to addressing unemployment in Nigeria.

Speaking before the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity, chaired by Senator Diket Plang (APC-Plateau) today, the minister outlined ongoing efforts to combat the nation’s unemployment crisis.

Just three months into his role, Dingyadi emphasized that tackling unemployment is the ministry’s top priority.

“Every hour, we are working tirelessly to address unemployment because it is our key responsibility. All our skill development programs are designed with the singular aim of reducing unemployment.”

On the nations unemployment statistics, the Labour minister refrained from providing specific figures, citing the need for accuracy.

“I don’t want to give figures I’m not certain about. However, we have these numbers, and our parastatals and agencies are actively working on the issue. We will coordinate and present accurate data to the committee soon,” .

Some lawmakers, however, commended the Tinubu administration’s dedication to the welfare of Nigerian workers, both in public and private sectors, highlighting the recent implementation of the new national minimum wage, effective April 1, 2024, as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring fair compensation and decent work.