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In an attempt to address the welfare need of
workers in the Iron and Steel industry under the
employment of the Federal Government, the Minister
of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed
Sada has directed officials of the Ministry and
representatives of the Iron and Steel Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria (ISSAN) and the Steel and
Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) to work
out a new template for their salaries and allowances.
The new template which is being worked upon will
be used to pay the outstanding salaries and
allowances of the staffers of the Ajaokuta Steel
Company Limited and the National Iron- Ore Mining
Company, Itakpe for the months of January, February,
March, April, 2010.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines
and Steel Development, Engr. Musa Sheik Goni made
the disclosure while addressing the staffers of the
National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency,
Kaduna.
Engineer Goni explained that the decision was
taken at a meeting the management of the Ministry
held with the representatives of the two labour
unions in Abuja presided over by the Minister, Arc.
Musa Mohammed Sada.
While addressing the staff of the National Steel
Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna on his
familiarisation visit, the Minister of Mines and
Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada disclosed
that the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the
National Iron- Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, will be
re-operationalised soon for the development of the
Steel sector.
Arc. Sada stated that once parts of the two
plants are re-operationalised they have to be
sustained.
In the words of the Minister: ‘’ We want to
restart the plants and sustain it.’’
The Minister observed that there was a failed
concession agreement on the Ajaokuta Steel Company
Limited and the National Iron- Ore Mining Company,
Itakpe which resulted to the present situation. He
added that the two entities cannot just be locked
up like that, they have to be re-operationalised.
The Minister reiterated that the Steel industry is
the backbone of any nation’s industrial and
economic development. Consequently, the Steel industry
has to be revived in Nigeria for the country to
be among industrialised nations in the world.
He said that when the Steel industry is developed
all stakeholders will be happy with what the
Ministry is doing.
Arc. Sada emphasised that the Ministry and all
its agencies have to start delivering on their
mandate to convince government that we are a
serious minded people who give value to projects
that are funded.
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