Private Employment Agencies Step Up for Fair Recruitment in Nigeria
With support from the ILO and and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria (EAPEAN) hosted a hands-on workshop in Lagos to empower private employment agencies with the skills and tools needed to promote ethical recruitment and protect migrant workers.
10 November 2025
Lagos, Nigeria: Private employment agencies in Nigeria are taking meaningful steps to make recruitment processes more ethical, transparent, and worker friendly. The EAPEAN, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and supported by GIZ, held a two-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos.
Organized under the GIZ-funded Action for Improving Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria (ACTION) Project, the workshop brought together over 30 affiliate members of EAPEAN. The goal was simple but powerful: to equip agencies with the knowledge and tools they need to promote fair recruitment and better protect the rights of Nigerian migrant workers.
Welcoming participants, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, President of EAPEAN, spoke passionately about the role of private employment agencies in connecting people to life-changing opportunities—both at home and abroad. He emphasized that while Nigeria’s ratification of ILO Conventions 181 and 143 shows strong national commitment, it’s the everyday actions of agencies that truly bring these policies to life.
Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), praised EAPEAN’s leadership in promoting fair recruitment. He highlighted the revised Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies as a reflection of NECA’s values—fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Dr. Salihu A. Usman, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE), described the workshop as a timely and strategic move toward improving international recruitment and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian workers abroad.
The workshop featured practical sessions led by experts from EAPEAN and the ILO. Mr. Jide Afolabi, EAPEAN’s Executive Secretary, walked participants through the revised Code of Conduct, which is built on 13 core principles. These include banning recruitment fees, preventing abuse, improving oversight, and addressing gender and child labour concerns. The Code also clearly outlines the responsibilities of agencies to both employers and jobseekers.
Mr. Augustine Erameh, ILO Employment and Migration Officer, facilitated a session on international labour standards, including ILO Convention 181 and the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment. He emphasized that fair recruitment must be lawful, transparent, and free from exploitation—and that agencies have a key role to play in making this a reality.
By the end of the workshop, participants expressed renewed confidence in their ability to support migrant workers and uphold ethical recruitment practices.
This training has opened our eyes, we now understand how to protect workers and build trust with employers.
Training participant
Looking ahead, EAPEAN and its partners plan to strengthen collaboration with government agencies and other stakeholders. The lessons learned will help improve compliance, enhance accountability, and promote safer migration pathways for Nigerian workers.