By Lucy Ogalue
The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), is partnering with the Nigeria Data Processing Commission (NDPC) to increase the productivity of workers in the country.
The NSIWC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, said this at a Data Protection and Productivity Measurement and Improvement training organised by both organisations in Abuja on Tuesday.
”We have always tried to organise partnerships like this to improve our country.
”Information and Technology services are now driving the economy, and there is no better partner in that sector than the NDPC which we are collaborating with.
”We are looking at ramping up productivity in the public sector, and you cannot do that if you do not have sufficient data as it is based on statistics.
”You can only begin to talk about salary increase if you know how much it will cost the Federal Government or any private employer as the case may be,” he said.
Nta said that the NBS was another valued partner that was into data harvesting, therefore, with all the data-driven processes, it was easy to arrive at decisions.
According to him, most organisations that agitate for salary increases needed to speak about a commiserate input on productivity.
”Where will the money come from to increase salaries if we do not improve our productivity”, he said.
The NSIWC chairman urged the participants, comprising of youths to see themselves as part of the productivity-driven process and agents of change.
Earlier, the NDPC National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said collaboration and cooperation were major pillar in the commission’s strategic roadmap from 2023 to 2027.
“That is why we are working with private sector and public sector organisations within the country, including NSIWC.
“We are all working for the same government. We must share a common vision which will be pursued with our mandate in mind.
“Also, ensuring productivity of workers, which the chairman spoke about, is a big takeaway for us,” he said.
Olatunji said that the ecosystem where people belong was very dynamic, evolving and needed many skills that were scarce globally and in high demand.
“That is why we need to work with critical stakeholders to look at things that can work to enhance the overall mandate.
“What we are doing today is obtaining knowledge. What kind of knowledge can we learn from NSIWC, being that they have been there for years and we are just starting?
“So, it is like marrying what has been in existence to what is just coming up now for us to be able to play our part in the global digital economy’” he said.
Olatunji said that the commission was working to ensure it was self-funded and sustained after two years of government support (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)