NIGERIA CIVIL SERVICE UNION ADVOCATES PROGRAMME OF ACTIONS FOR WOMEN TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

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NIGERIA CIVIL SERVICE UNION ADVOCATES PROGRAMME OF ACTIONS FOR WOMEN TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

…As Labour bestows honour on Minister of Women Affairs and Director- General, National Centre for Women Development

The National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union NCSU Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday has called for inclusion of Women in programme of actions that can further better their lots in all scheme of the things.

Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday who is also the National Vice President Nigeria Labour Congress NLC made this assertion on Thursday during a one day Empowerment training programme for both the National officials and State Chairpersons of the Nigeria Civil Service Union National Women Commission held at the National Headquarters of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Durumi in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

The Women Empowerment/ Train the Trainers
programme with the theme: “FOCUSSING ON WOMEN FOR BETTER FUTURE”.was an offshoot of the 2025 international women’s day celebration .

According to the National President “the programme is meant to bring together all National Women Commission Executive Members and the State Women Committee Chairpersons from across State/Federal Councils of the Union so that the Workshop/Training will enhance our collective efforts to advance gender equality and create a more inclusive environment.

In the address he delivered at programme, he highlighted the Objectives of the programme to include;

“To enhance the capacities and capabilities of Women ex group especially members of the Women Committee of Nigeria Civil Service Union in the Thirty Six (36) States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory.”

“To improve the standard of living of Women Committee of Nigeria Civil Service Union members Nationwide through the sustainable use ofx available resources ford socio- economic development”

“To help the NCSU Women committee members in general to reduce stress and strain on their meager resources by having additional source of income to sustain themselves in the face of this present economic reality”

“To help the NCSU Women Committee members to acquire the necessary skill that will help them achieve their goals and objectives as a committee”

“Apart from the aforesaid objectives, the empowerment /training programme is to consolidate on the , 2025 international women’s day celebration and to establish a very strong synergy of philosophy of human capital development” the National President added.

As part of the highlight of the programme the National leadership of the Union presented Awards to both the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development , Honourable Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim
as *”Matron of the Nigeria Civil Service Union NCSU Women Commission in Nigeria”* and Hon. Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, Director General, National Centre for Women Development as *”Pillar of Womanhood in Nigeria”* in order to Celebrate and identify with Women at the Policy decision making level; the Awards are very significant to Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) being the oldest Union in Nigeria founded in 19th August, 1912.

The National President declared that the vision and mission of the current National Leadership is to ensure that the mandate given by members of the Union across the Country is used to enthrone some legacy capital projects and also promote Human Capital
Development that can drive the Union to the next level and imprint a good reference point for future leaders of the Union.

Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday opined that as National and State Officers of NCSU, we have greater roles to play in making our members produce their best. We are duty bound to educate our members on government policies and decisions, especially those that affect their welfare and career developments.

In the same vein, the Labour Leader further admonished Public Servants to do more research in order to know much about their career opportunities that abound in the Public Service , to this end, members should be adequately exposed and encouraged to equip themselves for intra-cadre transfer .

As leaders of Trade Union, in our various State/Federal Councils, we need to equip ourselves for the challenges of modern trade unionism, as it will no longer be enough to fold our arms because we need to engage the management with adequate tact and scientific approach in tune with modern day industrial relations modern day best practices

We have to develop the skill of persuasion and understanding that will help us win over the management to our point of view. We should not be antagonistic, but friendly and patient too.

“Leadership is not about being in charge: it is about taking care of those in your charge and empowering them to thrive. ”

Comrade Oluwole stated that the determination of the current leadership of NCSU is to build a SOLID FOUNDATION for the development of the Union and better benefit of the entire members, the actual reason why;is to give adequate opportunities to women to develop their potentials and contributes to the development of the Nation in particular and the world in general. It can also be referred to as the provision of conducive environment or opportunities to women to contribute their quota to the social, political and economic developments of a Nation.

The empowerment of Women has become one of the important concerns of 21st century not only at National level but also at the international level.

According to him, there is no gainsaying that
government efforts
are on to ensure Gender equality but government initiatives alone would not be sufficient to achieve this goal. Society must take initiative to create a climate in which there is no gender discrimination and women have full opportunities of self-decision making and participating in the social, political and economic life of the country with a sense of equality.

The need to empower our Women Committee cannot be overemphasized particularly in a democratic society like ours which recognizes the need for individuals to develop their potentials and contribute to the overall development of the Nation.

It is therefore imperative on us as a , Union to create awareness on the benefits that could be derive from Women Empowerment as well as assist our Women Committee to assert their rights and contribute meaningfully to the development of Trade Union Movement in particular and the Nation in general.

“Suffice it to say that, the need for Women Empowerment does not mean Women dominating Men but rather that Women will_ be given equal opportunities on a level playing ground with their male counter parts to contribute immensely to social development by harnessing their potentials to full capacity in the interest of the Society at large.

This will speed up sustainable development and bring about viable democracy.

The purpose of this training tagged *“FOCUSSING ON WOMEN FOR BETTER FUTURE”* is meant to train the Master Trainers from the State/Federal Councils that will thereafter train others at their respective State/Federal Councils.

Not long from now we expect that State/Federal Councils will start requesting for National Officials to come and witness their Women Empowerment/ Training programme for their local members.

Earlier, the Ag General Secretary of the Union Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga presented the overview of the empowerment programme describing it as not only worthwhile but also very expedient due to the new trend in the Nigeria economic trajectory.

He appreciated the National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday for providing good leadership with passion and high level of commitment to the Union as an organisation, members and staff of the Union .

In her vote of thanks, the National Chairperson, NCSU Women Commission Comrade Mrs Ngozi Orji appreciated the National President and National leadership for counting women worthy of the programme and promised on behalf of the women to take the empowerment training programme very serious.

Present at the programme are representative of Minister of Women Affairs, Director General; National centre for Women Development Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir, National Deputy President (North) Comrade lnuwa Kabiru, National Deputy President (South) Comrade Tina Essien, National Trustee, Comrade David Ojediran, Comrade Adoga Arupa, Chairman Federal Council of NCSU among others.