Ministry of Labour and Productivity News
The international community has been urged to accord due recognition to Nigeria’s leadership position not only as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) but as a very able representative of African interests in global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council.
The new ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Aeneas Chapinga Chuma made this declaration in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu recently.
He further disclosed that work has reached an advanced stage towards finalization of the ILO Decent Work Country Programme for Nigeria (DWCP II), adding that the document would be ready for endorsement in June, 2014. He also emphasized the importance of the decent work agenda and assured Nigeria of the commitment of the ILO to working with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the social partners towards successful implementation of DWCP II.
Chapinga Chuma commended the Labour Ministry and the social partners for ratifying the Maritime Convention 2006 in record time last year, saying he is aware that work to domesticate the Convention is already underway. “The ILO is ready to work with you in this area as well as in the area of reporting on this and all the other ILO Conventions which Nigeria has ratified,” he added.
The ILO Assistant Director-General expressed satisfaction with the excellent working relationship between the ILO, the Labour Ministry and the social partners, indicating that it has resulted in the production of the National Action Plan on Employment Creation (NAPEC), Labour Migration Policy, National Child Labour Policy and the supporting National Action Plan and Hazardous List as well as the HIV and AIDS Work Place Policy.
“I also understand that work on the revision of the Labour Laws and Employment Policy has commenced in earnest with the preparation of some very good working background studies. The ILO is aware of the widespread challenges of youth unemployment in African member-states. An Extraordinary Summit of Heads of States and Governments would hold in September 2014 to review the progress and constraints in the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action as well as consider and propose new policies and programmes on employment and poverty alleviation,” he noted.
He expressed assurance that Nigeria will participate in the Ouagadougou follow-up summit and lauded the Federal and State Governments efforts towards providing employment and income generation opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“Programmes such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (You-Win) are all evidences of the Nigerian Government’s resolve to find a long-lasting response to the problem,” he explained. Adding, the ILO is ready to offer its expertise in support of the programmes.
In his remarks during the event, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu requested that the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP II) be finalized and adopted for immediate implementation by mid-2014. He also expressed hope that the recent appointment of Chapinga Chuma would benefit African member-states of the ILO.
The Minister pointed out that the long standing collaboration between the ILO and Nigeria has impacted positively on the country’s labour administration system through the ratification and domestication of over thirty ILO Conventions, recommendations and protocols. He further disclosed that the Government has developed Codes of Practice on Industrial Relations in some critical sectors such as oil and gas, education and health.
Emeka Wogu indicated that Nigeria has already taken measures towards the implementation of some priority objectives of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) I and II in the areas of employment for youths and women through the Community Services, Women and Youth Employment (CSWYE) Project of SURE-P and Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurial Training (TVET) Projects. Also intensified are regular reporting on the ratified Conventions by Nigeria as well as the establishment of the Departments of Productivity Measurement and Standard (PMS), Social Security and Skill Development and Certification in the Ministry.
He further mentioned the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Development of Social Protection Policy, strengthening social dialogue through the establishment of a tripartite advisory body and establishment of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) in line with ILO Convention 144 as some of the new strategies imbibed.
He also said that other strides enjoyed include the institution of relevant policies – the Labour Migration and Child Labour Policy and Action Plan. “The development of a National Action Plan on Employment Creation (NAPEC) which has been adopted as a working document by the National Planning Commission of Nigeria and the introduction of a National Policy on Productivity (NPP) are significant attainments derived so far,” he iterated.
The Minister assured the ILO African Regional Director that Nigeria would provide all necessary support to make a success of the country’s partnership and collaboration with the ILO on all labour development issues during his tenure.
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