Ngige decries low productivity, competitiveness in nation’s sectors

The Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige has said  despite the country`s huge   human and natural resources, it  lags behind smaller and  less-endowed African countries in productivity and competitiveness. Ngige said this Thursday at a press conference ahead of  the 17th National Productivity Day and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award […]

The Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige has said  despite the country`s huge   human and natural resources, it  lags behind smaller and  less-endowed African countries in productivity and competitiveness.

Ngige said this Thursday at a press conference ahead of  the 17th National Productivity Day and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award scheduled for  Tuesday  in Abuja.

The minister said for the country to achieve high productivity and competitiveness, there is an urgent need to bridge the productivity and competitiveness gap.

He said, “So, real competitiveness means the ability to produce goods and services that can compete in the domestic and international markets while promoting and maintaining a high living standard and quality of life for the people.

“Therefore, only nations with organisations that have high levels of productivity will become domestically and globally competitive.

“This has the capacity to exploit existing market opportunities to sustain and expand employment and real income growth in the long term.’’

He said that the government was conscious of the critical place of productivity in the realisation of the change agenda, saying  it was against this backdrop that the Federal Government through the National Policy on Productivity declared that a day shall be observed as the National Productivity Day throughout the country yearly.

The minister said the observance of the day and the conferment of the award was a positive step by the government to institutionalise productivity consciousness and excellence in service among workers and organizations in Nigeria.

The minister said that the award committee was an independent committee that conducted a thorough screening exercise, recommended 15 individuals and five organisations drawn from all sector of the economy.

Ngige said the awardees includes:  Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr Abdul Husseni, Farm Crowdy Nig. Ltd and Fresh Direct Nigeria.

Also speaking, Director-General National Productivity Centre (NPC) Kashim Akor  said that selection of the awardees was done by a committee set up for the purpose of the nomination.

Akor said the nomination of the individuals’ awardees was based on efficiency, hard work, innovation, creativity, punctuality, among others to the development of their organizations.

He also noted that the nomination for the companies was also based on those that are contributing to the diversification of the economy.

“We also look at their contributions to the economy, generation of wealth, creation of jobs, and acclaimed breakthrough in terms of research among others,” he said.

He said as part of the programme to mark the day there would an Award Lecture with the theme: “Productivity for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth’’ by Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd.