Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Bako Lalong says the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will stop at nothing to ensure that Nigerians are engaged in decent work under conditions that will not only promote economic growth, but also guarantee human dignity.

The Minister spoke during the launch of the Decent Work Country Programme III (2023–2027) in Abuja.

He said the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme III will ensure that existing and new jobs in both the public and private sectors are productive and provide opportunities for career progression to deliver a fair income and social security for the family. It will also ensure that the tenets of decent work are mainstreamed into all employment generation activities.

He said “It is instructive to note that the DWCP III aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025), which aims to accelerate, and sustain inclusive and private sector-led growth in the country. The objective of the plan is to generate 21 million jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty over the plan period (2021-2025). This has brought to the fore the increasing responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in assisting Ministries, Departments and Agencies to integrate decent work in national economic, social and environmental policies and programmes”.

Lalong noted that there is high prevalence of child labour, forced labour and human trafficking; gaps in labour administration including existence of obsolete extant labour laws and regulations; insufficient manpower and capacity for labour inspections; poor, unhealthy and unsafe working environments as well as gaps in social dialogue including anti-union stance of some employers.

These he said will no longer be allowed to continue as President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope mandate envisages that Nigerians particularly youths and women do not only deserve to get jobs, but engage in decent, safe, and productive employment that will enhance their human dignity, boost economic growth and checkmate insecurity.

He warned that Government will not hesitate to sanction employers who frustrate decent work.

“Let me use this opportunity to say that Government is aware of the activities of some employers who due to the pursuit of profit and in blatant disregard for extant labour laws create working environments that frustrate the attainment of decent work for employees. Because of their quest for profit, many workers are exploited and made to work in very indecent and intolerable conditions which negate all local and international labour laws”.

Country Director of the ILO Vanessa Phala said the programme evolved out of a research which was also validated by stakeholders and is part of ILO technical support to Nigeria.

She said the implementation of DWCP III will help in addressing decent work deficits that were highlighted in the diagnostic Report on Decent Work Situation in Nigeria. These include Informal employment, social protection, poor working conditions, low pay, long hours of work, and low rate of unionism among others.

UN Resident Coordinator to Nigeria said the UN through its systems and agencies will continue to engage and partner with the Government in ensuring that decent work is achieved for the good of the society.

DG NECA Mr. Wale Smart-Iyerinde, representatives of TUC and NLC promised total support to the programme and said other prevailing decent work deficits in Nigeria such as absence of efficient employment and job creation opportunities and condition of underemployment have become matters that require urgent attention.

Director wages Ministry of Labourand Employment John Nyamali thanked the Minister for his support towards ensuring that the programme is officially launched.

The Minister thereafter launched the programme after both the ILO and Government representatives signed the documents.

Earlier in the day, the Minister received veteran nollywood actors led by Zack Orji who were members of the defunct Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council. They were at the Ministry to congratulate the Minister whom they said gave purposeful leadership to the APC Campaign that delivered the President at the polls.

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Labour Minister Launches Nigeria’s Decent Work Programme III (2023-2027), Meets Nollywood Veterans