Nigeria Targets Steel Development By 2020 

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alh. Ahmed Gusau, when he received the member s of two Iron and Steel unions-the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN) and the Steel and Engineering Worker's Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) who paid him a working visit.  A ministry statement, signed by the Press Secretary, Stephen Kilebi, said that Gusau reiterated the development of the Steel sub-sector remains a serious concern to the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua -led government.

According to the statement, the Minister of State also assured the visiting members of the two unions who were there to seek a solution to their problems that the Federal Government is determined to ensure a continued harmonious relationship between the Iron and Steel employees and their employers for the sake of the sector. 

'As the regulators of the Mines and Steel sector, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) would ensure that a harmonious industrial relationship is sustained among the workers, their employers and the management of their organizations." the minister was quoted as saying.  The statement further said that Gusau also observed that the important things among the three parties were mutual understanding and respect for each other.  This, the minister observed, would achieve the objectives of the three organizations, which in turn would bring the development of the country.   Speaking earlier on behalf of he groups, the president of ISSSAN, Comrade Titus Orimijupa, highlighted their problems.  These he listed to include the delay in payment of staff salaries and pensions; the delay in payment of severance packages to the nationalised staff of the sub-sector as a result of the ongoing reforms by the federal government; the high handedness and careless attitude of the present employers as a result of the concessions and privatisation policy; and an alleged ineptitude and incompetence on the part of some management staff in some establishments of the sub-sector. 

Among the establishments where these problems were experienced include the National Iron Mining Company at Itakpe in Kogi State, the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency in Kaduna, the National Metallurgical Development Centre in Jos, Plateau State, the Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha, Anambra State, the Oshogbo Rolling Mill in Osun State, the Katsina Rolling Mill, Jos Rolling Mill, Delta State Steel Company, Aladja and the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State.