The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have signed an Implementation Agreement that seeks to strengthen effectiveness of workers’ organizations for enhanced engagement in the overall national labour migration governance process in Nigeria.

The collaboration focuses on the impacts of COVID-19 on rights of migrant workers, and specifically targets building capacity, improving trade union representation and collaboration for the promotion of effective labour migration governance processes between Nigeria and countries of destination, particularly in the area of reintegration of migrant workers amid the context of COVID.

Speaking at the event signalling the take-off of the partnership, Ms. Vanessa Phala, Director, ILO Abuja Office identified the critical role workers’ representatives would play in the recovery era, especially as it relates to migrant workers already identified among the most vulnerable groups impacted by the pandemic. She enjoined the leadership of the Congress to harness the opportunity afforded by the collaboration in contributing to the national aspirations for improved labour migration governance processes, in line with existing national frameworks such as the Labour Migration Policy which was recently revised and validated by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ismail Bello in a remark during the ceremony lauded the initiative, welcoming the collaboration as an opportunity to promote active involvement of workers representatives in the labour migration governance discourse at the national level. He noted that the partnership provides a strategic entry point for the much needed boost in enhancing required capacities of relevant affiliates of the Congress, especially in recognition of the adverse effects COVID has on the life and wellbeing of migrants workers both in Nigeria and destination countries.

Comrade Bello further restated that the NLC is poised to sustaining commitment towards advancing the rights of all working people in areas not limited to wages, healthcare and safety of workers, but across the broad spectrum of working conditions aligned to ILO’s fundamental principles and rights work.

The Implementation Agreement is expected to run for seven (7) months during which time it is envisaged that the Congress would develop a manual providing information for migrant workers in the area of return and reintegration, document existing practices on workers’ engagement in destination countries and also strengthen capacities of its affiliates and the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) for reporting more effectively in the area of forced labour issues.

Estimates as at January 2021, indicates the share of workers living in countries with COVID-19 related restrictions remained high, with about 93 percent of the world’s workers residing in countries which had introduced some form of workplace closure measures, including Nigeria.

Additionally, most recent data referenced in the ILO Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers reveal that the number of people migrating for work internationally increased from 164 million in 2017 to 169 million in 2019. This is indicative of a rise of five million migrant workers at the onset of the global pandemic.

It is within this context and through the framework of the FAIRWAY programme currently being implemented by ILO that the collaboration with NLC is being facilitated with a view to support workers activities in the area of labour migration and further strengthen coordination between workers organizations in Africa and the Arab States.