Abuja (ILO News) – The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as part of its ILO Centenary Commemorative events launched Nigeria’s Future of Work Report. With support from International Labour Organization Country Office Abuja, the Ministry had organised a National Dialogue on the Future of Work (FoW) that was aimed at coming up with strategies for minimising the negative effects of transformation processes as well as maximising the benefits therein. The report was developed to present activities and outcomes from the National Dialogue.

The ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Dennis Zulu, represented in his goodwill message by Mr. Dino Corell, highlighted that globalisation, global value chains, technical innovation and climate change are indeed key issues affecting the world of work today as stated in the report, and that these changes can be beneficial if harnessed properly. Mr. Zulu identified the need for a national plan of action on the future of work to ensure that people can benefit from a changing world of work and expressed ILO’s commitment to providing the necessary support.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Nwankwo Alo, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Abdulrahim Ajibola Ibrahim, expressed his delight that the purpose of the National Dialogue has been achieved. ‘There is no doubt that the outcome of the dialogue will dovetail into more job creation, enterprise development, sustained economic growth and national development’ he said. Mr. Alo commended the ILO and other stakeholders for their participation in the dialogue and tireless commitment to preparing for the future of work.

The keynote address of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. William Nwankwo Alo, applauded the ILO for its swift response to challenges affecting the future of work. Dr. Ngige reiterated that the present administration through its most ambitious program ‘Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)’ is working endlessly to expand national economic base and reinvigorate critical sectors of the economy to create more employment opportunities for Nigerians. He assured the audience that the Government was placing more priority on the largely untapped potentials of the informal sector. He therefore called on all partners to support the Nigerian Government to implement the recommendations from the dialogue so that the set goals are achieved.