By Yabagi Mohammed
[B]uilding on the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Arab Emirates, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Chris Ngige has urged the United Arab Emirates to activate the process of legal migration of skilled Nigerian middle level workers into the country under the International Labour Migration guidelines.
Ngige made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during a condolence visit by the ambassador of UAE to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mahmood Mohammed Almahmood on the passing away of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi.
“In consonance with the spirit of the relationship which exists between our two countries, and which President Muhammadu Buhari has further bolstered with his recent official visit to the United Arab Emirate and considering the series of agreements signed in the areas of trade, economic development, investment and industry as well as in legal cooperation among others, my ministry wishes to request that you activate the process of labour migration and employment into the UAE for skilled Nigerian workers.
“It is our desire to export skilled middle level workers, whether they are carpenters, bricklayers, tillers, painters etc .
We want to export them officially under the International Labour Migration Organization guidelines just like we are trying to do with Qatar. No doubt , we have high skilled Nigerian professionals like engineers , medical doctors, nurses and others already in your country but we want to push people from the middle cadre who have blue collar skills,” he said.
The minister also reiterated the common commitment of Nigeria and the UAE to fighting global terrorism, saying the two countries “are together in condemning terrorist attacks all over the world, especially in Nigeria where Boko Haram has destabilized the entire North East zone of the country, displacing millions and causing job losses. We seek for the assistance of your country in rehabilitating the displaced and in reconstructing their communities.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Mahmood Mohammed promised the cooperation of his country in the promotion of trade and other bilateral relations with Nigeria.
