*Say new office will boost staff productivity
By Michael Oche
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and his Minister of State counterpart, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, have called for urgent release of funds to ensure speedy completion of the new seven-storey headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Abuja.
Speaking during an inspection of the project on Tuesday, Dingyadi noted that once completed, the new office complex would end NDE’s 30-year reliance on rented facilities.
According to him, relocating the Directorate to the permanent headquarters will not only save government resources currently spent on rent but also provide a conducive environment that will significantly boost staff morale and productivity.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and urged the agency to take possession of the facility as soon as possible.
“The contractor is trying very hard to ensure that he meets our targets. So I am satisfied with what I have seen so far. I do hope that the NDE will try to move in as quickly as possible. We are paying rent on the old building, but by the time they move here, that will be off our necks,” he said.
On her part, the Minister of State Onyejeocha, who also inspected the facility, described the project as critical to addressing the office space challenges faced by the Directorate.
She explained that the current rented offices were inadequate and sometimes made it difficult for staff to perform their duties effectively.
Shee projected that with sufficient funding, the building could be ready for use before the end of the year.
However, Onyejeocha expressed worry that further delays in the release of funds could push the project completion by another two years.
She said, “I am very optimistic that very soon the NDE will move in. Like I said before, right now, even the Minister of State does not have an office. The place where I am staying currently, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation has been allocated. But I have to stay there because where do I go to?”
“So I believe that we need to put all our energy in this NDE building to make sure that it is finished with speed of light, so that those who do not have offices will just come in here to be able to do their work.
“And like the contractor was saying, they have done three floors. Right now, with the capacity of NDE, three floors will not be enough to accommodate the staff of the directorate and that of the ministry, including the DG himself. So I believe that what needs to be done is to make sure that funds are allocated to them to make sure that the whole complex is ready, before the end of the year.
Director-General of NDE, Mr. Silas Agara, thanked the ministers and President Bola Tinubu for supporting the project, recalling that the agency had been operating from rented facilities for over three decades.
He assured that once completed, the edifice would reposition the agency to serve Nigerians better.
“Good environment will certainly motivate the staff to put in more in driving the process of NDE.
“Like you know, NDE operates from over 36 states including Abuja. And we are supposed to be providing hope to a lot of Nigerians, especially those in the labour market. But when you visit the old office of the NDE, of course, all the hope you have will be dashed,” Agara stated.
