ILO facilitates convening a Coordination Meeting of the Technical Working Committee on Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria

The International Labour Organization (ILO) within the framework of the FAIRWAY global programme, and the Employment and Reintegration in Nigeria (ERN) project supported the Government of Nigeria to convene a coordination meeting of the Technical Working Committee (TWC) on Labour Migration Governance and Management in Nigeria. The meeting held on the 15th of August 2022 and had in attendance relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Social Partners, UN entities and Civil Society Organizations.

Mr. John Nyamali, Director, Employment and Wages Department at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment speaking on behalf of the Ministry acknowledged the contribution of the ILO to the policy environment on labour migration, particularly through support towards revising the 2014 National Policy on Labour Migration, as well as providing greater protection for migrant workers across the migratory journeys.

Ms. Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Abuja Office in her remarks commending the Federal Ministry of Labour and employment for convening the TWC and for updating stakeholders on progress recorded by the Government, particularly as it relates to the revised labour migration policy.

Noting that contemporary labour markets are informed by dynamics relating to the contribution of migrant workers, she highlighted some milestones recorded by the Government including the revision of the national policy and its gender responsiveness, development of a gender strategy, pre-departure training manuals and a blueprint for the migrant resource centres, as well as sustained training for national stakeholders on improved protection and promotion of rights of all migrants.

Ms. Phala appreciated the Governments of Switzerland and Germany for supporting the FAIRWAY global programme, and the Employment and Reintegration in Nigeria project respectively, seeing that is is within the framework of the respective collaboration the workshop was facilitated.

Additional goodwill messages delivered by Ms. Sikhulile Dhlamini, on behalf of the International Organization for Migration, and Ms. Ali Ojoma of the Embassy of Switzerland, noted the timeliness of the coordination meeting, including the relevant objective focusing on a discourse pertaining to operationalizing the revised labour migration policy.

During a session facilitated by the Ministry, representatives of the Committee were presented with a brief on the status of the revised policy, and its accompanying plan of action. The Ministry informed the gathering that an internal review and quality control check is currently being finalized in preparation for onward submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval.

In the interim, the Ministry also informed that the Government had commenced proactive implementation of certain aspects of the policy, including through support provided by ILO’s FAIRWAY programme, where sensitization and awareness raising workshops are currently being designed.

As one of the coordination mechanisms established by Nigeria’s National Policy on Labour Migration, the Committee provides a platform for relevant stakeholders to share information, reports, as well as deliberate on emerging labour migration governance issues at country level.

Considerations regarding better coordination among stakeholders, convening a high-level meeting on labour migration governance, as well as advancing national efforts targeted at collaboration with countries of destination, particularly through signing Bilateral Labour Agreements formed part of the major issues highlighted during the event.

The ILO continues to support the Government of Nigeria to improve the labour migration landscape, particularly through the FAIRWAY global programme, which works to improve labour migration conditions from Africa to Arab States, and protect vulnerable migrant workers in destination countries, and the Employment and Reintegration in Nigeria project, which complements these efforts by enhancing institutional frameworks for the provision of advisory and support services to returnees and the local population in Nigeria.