UN Agencies and the Governments’ NCCC Sign MoU to develop a Just Transition Roadmap for Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria (ILO News): The proposed Just Transition Roadmap will prioritize job creation, skills development, and capacity-building to facilitate the transition of vulnerable sectors from carbon-intensive industries to emerging green sectors. It will also promote the inclusion of trade unions and workers' voices, ensuring their active participation and representation in the decision-making processes. The roadmap will also address gender and social inclusion challenges specific to the Nigerian context. It will prioritize gender-responsive policies, recognizing women's unique roles, opportunities, and vulnerabilities in the transition process while focusing on inclusivity, considering the needs and perspectives of youth, marginalized groups, and Indigenous communities, and ensuring equal access to opportunities, benefits, and social protection measures.

The alignment of the Just Transition Roadmap with the strategic objectives of the United Nations System in Nigeria emphasizes the strategic partnership between the Government of Nigeria and the UN System. The roadmap will contribute to the United Nations System in Nigeria’s goal of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development by integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions in Nigeria's transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reinforces Nigeria's commitment to decent work, social justice, and sustainable economic growth. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) mandate on promoting sustainable and inclusive industrialization will further ensure a collaboration for an industry-wide approach and focus, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mandate is to end poverty and advocate for sustainable development to help people build a better life.

The main objectives of the JTR are to provide a comprehensive and inclusive roadmap for all sectors in Nigeria to transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy, to address the needs and concerns of workers, communities, vulnerable groups, and different genders affected by the transition, and to guide sector-specific strategies, policies, and investments that promote green jobs, social protection, gender equality, and sustainable development.

The signing of the Just Transition Roadmap sets the stage for the assignment implementation and report that will guide Nigeria’s effort to ensure that climate and energy justice are at the centre of the country’s effort to transition away from fossil fuels in accordance with national and global climate goals. The ILO’s Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the ECOWAS secretariat Dr, Vanessa Phala, represented by Mr. Steven Agugua, noted in his opening remarks that the transition to a less carbon-intensive economy is unavoidable because world governments have set net zero emissions targets, and many countries are working hard to meet. He noted that failure to prepare for the future would not only jeopardize national development but would also leave workers and vulnerable sectors stranded.
Responding, the Director General (DG) of the NCCC, Dr Salisu Dahiru, acknowledged that Nigeria is in a tricky situation concerning climate change and the global energy transition. Dahiru said Nigeria’s unique challenge lies in the fact that the country is very vulnerable to climate change and highly dependent on oil and gas as its national source of income. He said that this unique situation calls for finding ways to make the transition to a sustainable energy future fair to all.

The DG expressed confidence that the Centre for Climate Change and Development at Alex Ekwueme Federal University (CCCD-AEFUNAI), which will be leading the development of the JTR, will do an excellent job of providing pathways for Nigeria based on national economic and sociotechnical circumstances. He expressed confidence that CCCD-AEFUNAI, led by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a renowned climate policy scholar, heads the team to deliver the just transition roadmap. In response, Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, a renowned academician, and Professorial Fellow at CCCD-AEFUNAI who led the team for the MoU signing event, expressed gratitude to the NCCC and other international partners for the chance to establish a just transition. He pledged that the CCCD team would provide a roadmap that the country could use to plan strategies for lowering the carbon intensity of their economic activities in ways that support the sectors and populations that are vulnerable to the transition.

Among other dignitaries that were present in the MoU signing ceremony include: The National Programme Coordinator, Environment and Energy, UNIDO, and Oluyomi Banjo. Others include the Head of the Directorate of Energy, Infrastructure, and Transportation, NCCC, Michael Ivenso; Just Transition Roadmap Project Coordinator, NCCC, Jummai Vandu; Senior Research Fellow, CCCD-AEFUNAI in charge of climate finance, Mr. Obi Ugochukwu; and Senior Research Fellow in charge of industry and political economy, Dr. Sadiq Okoh.