ILO supports Nigeria to Unveil Ambitious Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III 2023 – 2027

Abuja, Nigeria (ILO News): The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), with the participation of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, formally launched Nigeria’s Decent Work Country Programme III (DWCP III), which is expected to be implemented within a five-year period (2023 and 2027)

In his welcome remarks, the Director of Employment and Wages Department FMLE, Mr John Nyamali expressed appreciation to the ILO for its support to the Government of Nigeria and the social partners throughout the process. He thanked all the stakeholders and consultant for their cooperation during the formulation of the DWCP. He remarked that the DWCP III has 3 pillars, namely,
• Job creation for men, women, youths, and people with disabilities
• Rights at work
• Extending Social protection

The third generation DWCP builds on the pillars and successes of DWCP I and II implemented from 2005. The DWCP III exemplifies the stakeholders desire to make decent work a key component of national development. He urged all stakeholders to support and commit to the implementation of the DWCP III.

In her goodwill message, the ILO Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Dr. Vanessa Phala expressed her delight in the inclusiveness and human centred process of developing the DWCP III. She noted that it was critical for the DWCP to be data driven, and reflective of the labour priorities of the country. According to her, with this framework, the DWCP will ensure that the ILO support was directed at the most important concerns of the tripartite constituents and contribute to the development of the country. She highlighted the fact that the DWCP III priorities were aligned with National development priorities, including United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Nigeria 2023-2027, regional priorities like Abidjan Declaration, Agenda 2063, and other global priorities like the ILO centenary declaration and SDGs.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director General NECA stated that NECA was committed to labour and employment relations of the country and growth policies for the macro economy. He expressed the commitment of NECA to continually work to strengthen labour relations in Nigeria including the implementation of the DWCP III. He emphasized the need for more engagement through tripartism and social dialogue to enhance the implementation of the priorities of the framework which focuses on job creation, rights at work and social protection. He stated that NECA just celebrated its members who were working in alignment with the fulfilment of labour standards and priorities especially around employment for people with disabilities.

Speaking through Mr. James Eustace, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero stated that the pursuit of Decent Work for all workers was a search for Social Justice. He indicated that workers’ rights as expressed in DWCP III, Priority 2: “Rights at Work”, was key to a healthy work-life and peaceful society. According to Ajero, the protection of fundamental and other rights at work were understood against the backdrop of the conclusion that social development was anchored inevitably on workplace productivity which in turn was a function of healthy workplace relations. He stated that “as the NLC, we are privileged to be a part of this developmental journey. Throughout the formulation phases of the DWCP III 2023-2027, we recognized the collective efforts of stakeholders, including government agencies, employers' organizations, workers' unions, civil society, and the international community, in shaping a future where decent work is not only a fundamental right but also a reality for all Nigerians”.

Comrade Hassan Ankar, who represented the TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, at the launch commended the tripartite partners and other stakeholders including the ILO for the milestone achievement in formulating the DWCP III and looked forward to the implementation of the provisions of the DWCP III.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Mattias Schmale, speaking at the launch stated that the Nigeria DWCP III was formulated in line with the Nigeria UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023 -2027. He stated that the framework was meant to guide the UN’s work in the country based on its SDGs priority. He stated that the UN hopes to scale up workable solution to address decent work issues across the country. He affirmed that Nigeria’s commitment to decent work would influence the sub-region too. He commended the ILO for being an institution that brought together organizations with opposing views to work together for development.

In his address, the Minister of Labour, Dr. Simon Lalong, commended the ILO for its support and called for continued collaboration. He stated that the Federal Government was aware of the activities of some exploitative employers, asserting that the Federal Government would take punitive measures against those violating local and international labour laws.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the DWCP III was signed by the tripartite partners and the ILO symbolizing a united commitment to transformative change. The Honourable Minister, joined by the UN Resident Coordinator, ILO Director, ILO social partners and other dignitaries at the high table thereafter launched and presented the DWCP document to the public.

The ILO believes that the launch and full implementation of the DWCP III would enable the country to make significant progress towards achieving decent work for all Nigerians.