The Federal Government has requested the assistance of the International Labour Oragnisation (ILO) in strengthening the Labour Inspectorate System in the country by providing technical assistance for the review of Nigeria’s Labour Bills which were withdrawn from the National Assembly in 2017.
A statement issued on Friday by Assistant Director of Press in the Ministry of labour and Employment Rhoda Iliya, said the Permanent Secretary William Alo made the request while receiving the Director General of ILO, Guy Ryder, in his office. Alo also requested the assistance of the international body in capacity building for Professional Officers of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, particularly with regards to granting quotas for full fellowships to facilitate access to training programmes at the ILO’s International Training Center in Turin.
While appreciating the ILO for the Decent Work Country Programme I and Decent Work Country Programme II, Alo appealed to ILO to extend its usual full support to the Nigerian Government in the formulation and implementation of Decent Work Country Programme III, which has become overdue, the statement said.
Alo also requested for technical and financial support from the ILO for the implementation of action plans of various National Policies such as National Employment Policy, National Policy on Labour Migration, National Productivity Policy, National Policy on Child Labour and National Policy on Occupational safety and Health.
While acknowledging ILO’s support extended to Nigeria in the development of these policies which are pivotal for the achievement of decent work, Alo added that ILO should consider providing technical and financial support for the establishment of National Labour Market Information System.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the ILO’s recognition of Nigeria as a strategic partner and expressed delight that Nigeria was chosen as the venue. He therefore reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to continue partnering with the ILO. He promised to continually extend all necessary support to the organization in all areas as may be desired.
He specially commended ILO for all the technical assistance extended to the country over the years. He pointed out ILO’s Technical Assistance to the review of the Extant Labour Laws, Capacity Building for professional officers in the Ministry on various fields of Labour Administration including Report Writing on ILO Conventions ratified by Nigeria and extending Fellowships to professional officers at the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin for communication.
The Permanent Secretary also commended ILO for Collaborating with the Ministry on development of a National Industrial Relations Policy, the DWCP I and DWCPI II, development and launching of the National Employment Policy and Technical Assistance for the development, subsequent review of the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health.
In his response the Director General, ILO Guy Ryder who was in the country for the Global Youth Employment Forum said that one of the reasons he was in the Country was to understand the process and challenges faced in the Labour sector and how the organisation can be of assistance.
Ryder said he was aware that in the past, ILO has collaborated in the formulation of major programme in the Country especially National Agreement Programme but according to him, there were some pending issues like the issues of Labour Legislation review and reforms.
He wanted to be sure while in the Country that the different Tripartite Council and structure which exist don’t simply exist on paper but in practice.
He promised to meet with the Trade Union, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Assembly, to access their feelings on how the Tripartite Cooperation is functioning in Nigeria.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
