…Sets up joint Reconciliation, Performance Oversight Committee
The Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has called on the Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, to address concerns over alleged mismanagement and embrace reconciliation for the progress of the institute.
The minister made the remarks during a peace meeting at MINILS (Ilorin) on June 19, 2025, urging both management and staff to prioritise dialogue over disputes.
Speaking at the reconciliation meeting convened at her instance at the institute, the minister acknowledged the grievances of staff of the institute over the DG’s reappointment and allegations brought against him, but stressed that the decision of his appointment “remained within the prerogative of the President.”
The Minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Salihu A. Usman, the Director General of Trade Union Services (Falonipe Amos), and the Director of Productivity and Labour Standards (Emmanuel Agbinosun), addressed the protesting workers. She acknowledged their right to protest over the allegations against the DG but emphasised that due process must be adhered to.
“Your right to express your grievances is not only recognised but is protected within the ethos of democratic governance,” she said. “However, we must now look beyond contention and towards constructive engagement. The future of MINILS depends not on who leads, and indeed its reputation alone, but on how leadership and followership can work together to rebuild trust.”
Addressing the DG directly, the minister urged a fresh start, saying, “I urge you to see this moment as a fresh opportunity, a chance to turn the page, to listen more attentively, to lead more inclusively, and to demonstrate, beyond words, your commitment to reform, development, and institutional harmony.”
She also appealed to staff at the meeting, including leadership and representatives of unions of the institute, reminding them of the institute’s mandate and legacy: “Let us now engage each other in dialogue rather than dispute, in solutions rather than standoffs.”
To resolve the crisis, the minister announced the formation of a “Joint Reconciliation and Performance Oversight Committee” comprising management and staff representatives. The committee will address grievances, monitor leadership performance, and recommend reforms. “Let us embrace this as a new beginning,” she declared. “Let our collective energy be channelled toward growth, innovation, and renewed purpose.”
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Salihu A. Usman called for calm and assured the workers that no “allegation will be swept under the carpet,”. He added that “where genuine grievances exist, mechanisms for redress will be activated.”
“Therefore, I appeal to all staff to remain calm, cooperative, and open-minded,” he said.
The Director General MINILS, Issa Aremu, faces alleged financial misconduct and abuse of office.
A joint petition from the institute’s three major unions – SSAUTHRIAI, ASURI and NASU, the unions alleged the DG appears more focused on personal advancement than fulfilling the institute’s statutory responsibilities.
Beyond financial impropriety, the DG was also accused of refusal to train and empower workers, workplace harassmen and host of other official misconducts.
Aremu in his remark during the meeting, while giving account of his stewardship and achievements recorded, he expressed gratitude to the Minister for his reappointment, praising her contributions to the ministry. He also thank her and the visiting team for their intervention.
He assured colleagues and management that he has learnt his lessons, stressing the need for reconciliation.
“I want to assure my colleagues and management staff that the events of recent times are a lesson from which we have to learn”, said Aremu, who further pledged support for the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) an initiative of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
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