Nigeria rallies stakeholders for inclusive jobs future at NEC capacity workshop
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE) with support from the ILO within the framework of GIZ’s SKYE II and ZME programmes convened a two-day workshop in Keffi to strengthen the institutional capacity of the National Employment Council for implementing Nigeria’s revised National Employment Policy and Labour Migration Policy.
11 June 2025
Keffi (ILO News) –The NEC workshop was organized from 6 – 7 May in Keffi, Nasarawa State aimed to enhance the capacity of members of the NEC to effectively implement the National Employment Policy (NEP 2025) and the National Policy on Labour Migration (NPLM), with a focus on coherence, accountability, and inclusive economic growth.
Opening remarks by Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Permanent Secretary of FMLE and delivered on his behalf by Mrs. Helen Ayemoba underscored the role of employment policies in job creation, inclusion, and sustainable development. The remarks also highlighted the importance of adequate institutional capacity, and stakeholders’ collaboration for addressing labour market challenges faced by youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of Ms. Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Abuja Country Office, the leadership and collaborative engagement of the Government and social partners in Nigeria was acknowledged, with a call for accelerated policymaking and implementation processes that ensures inclusive and human-centered approaches for all Nigeria workers, including migrant workers. She emphasized the policy’s potential to improve access to skills development, career guidance, and lifelong learning, and called on stakeholders to actively support its implementation.
The workshop, being the maiden training for members of the NEC, included technical sessions on Nigeria’s labour market challenges, and comprehensive frameworks for employment policy implementation. The sessions were facilitated by Kim Kee Boem, Grace Gondwe, both Employment Policies Specialists at the ILO Employment, Labour Markets, and Youth Branch (EMPLAB). Additionally, Austin Erameh, Employment and Migration Officer at the ILO Abuja Office, facilitated sessions that provided Council members with technical tools and guidance for the coherent implementation of employment and labour migration policies.
A key highlight was the introduction of the draft NEP, and its implementation framework, with participants gaining clarity on institutional arrangements, stakeholder roles, communication strategies, and budgeting approaches critical for operationalizing employment and labour migration policies. The workshop emphasized the importance of policy coherence, drawing on global practices to illustrate how integrated employment systems can drive inclusive growth.
Group exercises allowed NEC members to apply concepts in real-time, proposing the establishment of state-level NECs, thematic working groups, stakeholder reporting templates, and harmonized monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks. These practical sessions fostered ownership, cross-agency collaboration, and actionable next steps.
As a result of the workshop, NEC members improved their technical skills for policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; developed concrete institutional planning proposals to boost accountability and performance tracking; deepened their understanding of global best practices in the Nigerian context; and strengthened their commitment to mentoring, and knowledge sharing...
The NEC and the Secretariat will ensure the implementation of the next steps, which includes operationalizing NEC structures at both national and state levels; finalizing and deploying a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators; advocating for employment-responsive budgeting within national planning cycles; and enhancing public awareness and advocacy through engagement with the media, civil society, and private sector partnerships.
The ILO, through the Strengthening Employment and Employability Systems in Nigeria (SEESIN) project and the Action for Improving Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria (ACTION) project, continues to support to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Employment Council in implementing the National Employment Policy and the National Policy on Labour Migration). This support includes technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, and efforts to strengthen policy coordination across employment and migration issues.