News: ILO to Draft New Employment Policy for Nigeria

The International Labour Organisation has pledged its commitment to the drafting of a new employment policy for the country in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

A statement on Tuesday stated that the Country Director of ILO, Mr. Dennis Zulu, said this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige.

Zulu stated that the organisation was anticipating the input of the ministry to the completion of the Social Protection Policy, aimed at providing social protection floor for vulnerable Nigerians, including retirees.

According to him, the policy will ensure that retirees do not get trapped in poverty after retirement.

The ILO country director affirmed the need to review Nigeria’s Labour Laws to reflect the reality of the moment in the sector.

Zulu said, “ILO will like to partner Nigeria on the drafting of new employment policy. We as an organisation have attained an advanced stage in the drafting of this policy and we need the contribution of the tripartite partner as well as the ministry to push it forward.

“We look forward under your leadership to see that the labour laws that have been in the National Assembly since 2005 are clarified to ensure that they reflect changing times and changing demands both in the private and public sectors.”

In his response, Ngige reiterated the commitment of the Buhari-led administration to the provision of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and assured ILO of his commitment to the maintenance of industrial peace and harmony through proactive social dialogue¬.

He said, “The name of this ministry was changed to Ministry of Labour and Employment to reflect its pivotal role in the job creation efforts of the Federal Government.

“The activities of the ministry are also accentuated by this responsibility and we are living up to the task.

“However, the aspect that makes for industrial relations, social protection for the vulnerable and the entire workforce as enshrined in the ILO status and the nation’s constitution will not be abandoned.

 “We are going to make resources of state available to everybody especially those on the lower rung of the social ladder and not a select few at the top.

“We have fashioned out some social intervention programmes such as the Graduate Teachers Conversion Scheme, Commercial Farmers Training Project, Conditional Cash Transfer, Skill Acquisition Programme to impart skills such as metal fabrication, plumbing, electric wiring, baking, interior decoration, repair of phones, painting, hairdressing, garment production and mechatronic among others.

“We hope that ILO will give us technical support to man the various skills acquisition and vocational centres.”

Source: Punch