Chris Ngige

Chris Ngige
Minister of Labour and Employment Nigeria[1][2]
In office
11 November 2015 – 29 May 2023
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byChukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu
Succeeded bySimon Lalong
Governor of Anambra State
In office
29 May 2003 – 17 March 2006
Preceded byChinwoke Mbadinuju
Succeeded byPeter Obi
Senator for Anambra Central
In office
6 June 2011 – 6 June 2015
Preceded byAnnie Okonkwo
Succeeded byUche Ekwunife
Personal details
Born
Chris Nwabueze Ngige

(1952-08-08) 8 August 1952
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (APC)
Alma materUniversity of Nigeria Nsukka

Chris Nwabueze Ngige (born 8 August 1952) is a Nigerian politician and medical doctor who served as minister of Labour and Employment of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration from 2015 to 2023.[3][4][5][6] He was elected Senator for Anambra Central Constituency in April 2011.[7] He was the governor of Anambra State[8] in Nigeria from May 2003 to March 2006 under the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[9][10]

Background

A medical doctor by profession, Ngige graduated from the University of Nigeria-Nsukka in 1979.[11][12] Chris immediately went into the civil service, serving at the National Assembly and state house clinics at different times. He retired in 1998 as a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Health.[13]

Political career

Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige entered politics, becoming a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[14][15] In 1999, he was Assistant National Secretary and Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East region of Nigeria.[16]

In 2003, he was elected governor of Anambra State in controversial circumstances.[17][12] He quickly broke ranks with his political godfather, Chris Uba the brother of Andy Uba, after an unsuccessful attempt on 10 July 2003 to have him removed from office, through a fabricated letter of resignation which the state assembly accepted.[18] In August, 2006, an Election Tribunal led by Justice Nabaruma nullified Ngige's 2003 victory.[19] He appealed to the Nigerian Federal Court of Appeal, but the annulment was confirmed on 15 March 2006, in a judgment awarding victory to Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).[20] No further appeals were possible, and Ngige accepted the judgment in good faith, calling on the people of Anambra to give their support to his successor.[21]

Following Peter Obi's subsequent impeachment, Ngige attempted to participate in state governorship elections in April 2007, but was frustrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission[22] and federal 'disqualification', even after a Federal High Court had voided the disqualification. In the final event, Obi's impeachment was overturned anyway, and Obi served out his four years.[23] At the time, Ngige was also severely criticized for appearing naked at the dreaded Okija voodoo shrine during his campaign to be made governor.[24]

On 6 February 2010, Ngige again contested for the governorship of Anambra State.[25] Other notable politicians who contested with him included Andy Uba, Charles Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Ralph Nwosu, and the incumbent governor, Peter Obi. In all, there were 25 candidates for that election. Peter Obi won that election and started his second term as the governor of Anambra State.[26]

In April 2011, Ngige ran for election for senator of Anambra Central, on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform.[27] After voting problems in some areas of the constituency on 9 April, the election in these areas was held on 25 April and Ngige was declared the winner over former Minister of Information and Communications Professor Dora Akunyili of the APGA, with 69,765 votes to Akunyili's 69,292.[7]

Ngige's tenure as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ended following his defeat in the 2015 election by Hon. Mrs Uche Ekwunife who was sworn in as the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria.[26]

On 11 November 2015, Ngige was named minister of Labour and Employment by President Muhammadu Buhari.[28] In 2019, Chris Ngige was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as a returning minister for screening by the National Assembly.[29] On 21 August 2019, he was sworn in by the president[30] as the Minister of Labour and Employment.[31]

On 19 April 2022, Ngige declared interest to run for the post of the President of the Republic of Nigeria under the All Progressive Congress (APC)'s banner. The experienced politician, who had served as Governor of Anambra State, Senator and Minister described himself as "jack of all trade and masters of all".[32]

Achievements

During his tenure in public service, Chris Ngige recorded several notable accomplishments:

  • Industrial Dispute Resolution: As Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige successfully resolved over 1,600 industrial disputes through conciliation, thereby reducing the number of cases referred to the National Industrial Court.[33]
  • International Labour Organization (ILO) Leadership: He chaired the ILO Government Group from 2019 to 2020 and facilitated Nigeria’s return to the ILO Governing Board after a decade-long absence.[34]
  • Minimum Wage Implementation: Ngige played a key role in negotiating and implementing Nigeria’s ₦30,000 minimum wage in 2019, helping to avert a nationwide strike.[35]
  • Institutional Reforms: He established the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), Labour Migration Resource Centres, and the e-NSITF digital portal to improve transparency within the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).[36]
  • National Honour: In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.[37]
  • Medical and Administrative Leadership: Before entering politics, he rose to the rank of Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Health and served as President of the University of Nigeria College of Medicine Alumni Association from 2008 to 2014.[38]


See also

References

  1. ^ Nwafor, Gloria (8 June 2022). "Union hails Ngige for ceding ambition to resolve education sector's crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ "2023: Ngige joins presidential race". Premium Times. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ Angbulu, Stephen (22 June 2022). "ASUU'll call off strike soon, says Ngige". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  4. ^ Egobiambu, Emmanuel. "ASUU Strike Will Be Resolved Soon, Ngige Assures Nigerians". Channels TV. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Ngige: FG will resolve issues on ASUU strike very soon". TheCable. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  6. ^ Opejobi, Seun (22 June 2022). "ASUU strike to end soon - Labour minister, Ngige assures". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b Onu, Nwanosike (28 April 2011). "How Ngige floored Akunyili in Anambra Central". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2 May 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  8. ^ Ajani, Jide; Aziken, Emmanuel (13 February 2011). "ntrigues stall Ribadu's choice of running mate". Vanguard. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  9. ^ Olayinka, Collins; Osibe, Osiberoha (2 January 2022). "2023: Ngige roots for Southern president". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ^ Oyero, Kayode (13 May 2022). "Breaking: Ngige pulls out of presidential race, retains ministerial seat". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  11. ^ Ezigbo, Onyebuchi (11 January 2020). "Chris Ngige: I Married as an Overgrown Adult At 41". This Day. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b "For the Record: Official citations of Buhari's ministers, SGF". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  13. ^ Aziken, Emmanuel (14 November 2013). "Anambra: The four titans". Vanguard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  14. ^ "The Honourable Minister – Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment". Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  15. ^ Anyadiora, Justus (13 August 2015). "Ngige at 63: Celebrating an exception". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Chris Ngige Biography and Detailed Profile". Politicians Data. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Nigerian States". World Statesmen. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. ^ Jason, Pini (4 September 2012). "State police and scare mongers (2)". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  19. ^ Lawal, Fuad (7 October 2015). "8 things to know about Chris Ngige". Pulse. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Anambra: The judgments so far". Vanguard. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  21. ^ Temple Chima Ubochi (17 June 2007). "Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State: Consistency; Perseverance [sic] and Patience Are Worthy Virtues". nigeriaworld.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  22. ^ "Nigeria election 2019: Poll halted in last-minute drama". BBC News. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  23. ^ Ezekwere, Ijeoma (9 February 2007). "Nigeria reinstates impeached Anambra state governor". Reuters. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  24. ^ Ujumadu, Vincent (25 August 2015). "'Okija Shrine: No longer a bee-hive of activities for politicians". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  25. ^ Ujumadu, Vincent (10 October 2009). "Anambra 2010: Meet the candidates". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  26. ^ a b "10 things to know about Chris Ngige". Newsday. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Ngige Wins Anambra Central Senatorial election". www.afripol.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  28. ^ "See full list of Buhari's ministers and their portfolios". Vanguard. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  29. ^ Abimbola, Oluwakemi (25 July 2019). "Ministerial nominee: I left PDP when the vehicle was rickety, says Ngige". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Just In: Full List: Buhari assigns portfolios to new Ministers". Oak TV Newstrack. 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Fashola gets Works as Ngige, Amaechi, Lai retain portfolios". The Nation. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  32. ^ "2023 Election: Senator Chris Ngige Declares Interest to Contest for President". News About Nigeria. 19 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Ngige's labour legacy: What next after 8 years as minister?". Vanguard. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Ngige emerges ILO government group chair". The Guardian. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  35. ^ "Minimum wage: FG, labour unions reach agreement". The Punch. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  36. ^ "Eight years of reform in labour ministry – Ngige". Leadership. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  37. ^ "Full list: Buhari confers national honours on 339 Nigerians, friends of Nigeria". The Punch. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Ngige led UNCOMA from 2008 to 2014 – Alumni Secretariat". The Sun. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
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