House of Reps adopt motion to sanction Ngige

The House of Representatives has adopted a motion urging President Muhammadu Buhari to sanction the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for allegedly violating a moratorium on the issuance of International Recruiters Licenses.

The motion moved by Rep. Tolulope Alande-Shadipe (APC-Oyo) was unanimously adopted at plenary on Thursday, NAN reports.

Moving the motion earlier, Shadipe said that the officers should also be made to face disciplinary measures for disregarding and obstruction of the House Committee on Diaspora in its attempt to carry out its official mandate.

Sadipe moved that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige be summoned to explain the issuance of International Recruiters Licenses.

“It is very important that the Minister, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment appears to explain the inconsistencies observed and the reasons why there is presently still no Bilateral Labour Agreement to protect Nigerian migrant workers.

“Also, mandate the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute Government officials found to be complicit in issuing the International Labour Recruiters licensed after September 2017 Moratorium.

“The Nigeria Police Force should also arrest and prosecute all agents/persons Nigerian and Foreign Nationals when found to have compromised the freedom of our citizens or involved in human trafficking,” she said.

The house urged President Buhari to mandate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigerian Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to hasten the process of preparing a Bilateral Labour Agreement and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for recruitment of Nigerians for unskilled labour employment in foreign lands.

The house further urged the Federal Government to ensure that the remaining allegedly trafficked girls by Mr Wafic Hamza are rescued, repatriated and duly compensated before his release.