The Federal Government on Wednesday restated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in its sustained drive to promote decent work, social justice, and economic growth globally,
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, made the commitment during a courtesy visit by the ILO Director-General, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, in Abuja.
Dingyadi recalled that since Nigeria became a member of the global labour organization in 1960, the Nigerian government had ratified 44 ILO conventions, including nine out of ten fundamental conventions that address critical labor issues such as the elimination of forced labor, abolition of child labor, and eradication of workplace discrimination.
The minister also spoke on Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with the ILO in social protection, occupational safety and health standards, gender equality in the workplace, and the implementation of ratified conventions, among others.
He commended Houngbo for his leadership strategies being the first African Director-General of the ILO, describing it as a demonstration of Africa’s growing influence in the global labour landscape.
The minister said: “Mr. Director-General, as you interact with key stakeholders in the Nigerian labour landscape, we trust that your visit will further cement the cooperation between the ILO and Nigeria, leading to impactful outcomes for our workforce and economy. We are honored to host you, and we look forward to continued partnership in building a just and equitable world of work.
“As we look to the future, we are reminded of the aspirations articulated in the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work. The Declaration emphasizes the need for the democratization of the lLO’s governance structures, ensuring full, equal, and democratic participation of all member states”, he added.
In his remarks, Houngbo acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic role in ILO governance and expressed interest in understanding how Nigeria’s recent economic reforms have impacted the labor market, especially given the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures on workers, which many countries are contending with globally.
The labour expert, who commended the Nigerian government on its roles over the years, restated the global labour organisation’s sustained commitment to combating child labour, forced labour, slavery, and gender discrimination in the workplace.
