The Government of Nigeria has re-emphasized its commitment in ensuring the effective implementation of the revised National Policy on Labour Migration, especially in recognition of the significant positioning of the country in the global labour migration landscape. This commitment was made known by Mr. John Nyamali, Director, Employment and Wages Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, while delivering the opening remarks during two sensitization workshops convened by the Ministry in Lagos State and Abuja from 7th – 9th and 13th – 15th of February 2023 respectively.

While acknowledging the support and collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) during the policy revision, Mr. Nyamali noted that the Ministry had conceptualized the sensitization workshops to facilitate the operationalization of the revised policy, especially leveraging on collaboration, sensitization, and awareness raising for stakeholders.

Ms. Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Abuja, while commending the efforts of the Government in recording the landmark achievement in the review of the policy, noted that the ILO is particularly delighted to witness advancements in the governance of labour migration at the country level. The agency continues to provide support to national stakeholders toward improvements in the areas of policy, law, and practice. She also acknowledged the contribution of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for sustained collaboration and supporting the ILO's work in labour migration.

Goodwill messages delivered by Ms. Sandra Vermuijten and Mr. Christian Brügger of GIZ and SDC, respectively, reiterated the role rights-based labour migration policies play in fostering the protection of migrant workers while acknowledging the collaboration with ILO and leadership of the Government in reviewing and commencing implementation of the policy.

In 2014, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced a National Policy on Labour Migration with a vision to establish an effective, responsive, and dynamic governance framework for labour migration in the country. The policy provided for a periodic review, which informed the initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and was based on an analysis report on the extent of its implementation.

Conceptualized through a consultative process and based on the acknowledgment of limited levels of awareness about the existence and normative provisions of the 2014 policy, the sensitization workshops were convened within the framework of the FAIRWAY Global Programme supported by the Government of Switzerland. The activity package complements other significant and strategic support the ILO is providing to relevant national authorities having mandates related to labour migration, as well as social partners and other non-state actors that engage processes in the policy and practice landscape in this regard.

The revised national policy was approved by Nigeria's Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2022, and the policy is divided into seven parts that include chapters that broadly illustrate the Governments' policy aspirations relating to safeguarding the rights of migrant workers, including a gender responsive approach to labour migration and grievance and justice mechanisms.