By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Government has called on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to deploy its technical and financial assistance to ensure the successful implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP III) in Nigeria.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, who made the call yesterday in Abuja at the launch of DWCP 111, commended the ILO for its unwavering support over the years to the Nigerian government in the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda.
He said the journey to development of DWCP III started in March 2021 when the government in collaboration with the ILO commenced consultation with the social partners and other stakeholders on the development of DWCP III.
According to him, “This culminated in the engagement of a consultant to assess decent work situation in the Country as a precursor to the development of Decent Work Country Programme III.
“The resultant diagnostic report presented an evidence-based analysis of the progress and situation concerning tactical areas of decent work and challenges facing Nigeria. It identified context-specific constraints, challenges, and opportunities to increase productive employment through inclusive and job-rich economic growth.
“The assessment report further identified the prevailing decent work deficits in the Country. This formed the basis for the identification of priority areas, programmes, projects, and activities that will be implemented in the Decent Work Country Programme III cycle.”
While stressing the importance of developing DWCP III, he noted that the emergence of COVID-19 changed the economic and business landscape due to its impact on national and sub-national economies, large corporations, MSMEs, and jobs globally.
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Lalong said that the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme III will ensure that existing and new jobs in both the public and private sectors are productive, provide opportunities for career progression, and deliver a fair income and social security for the family.
He further stated that it will also ensure that the tenets of decent work are mainstreamed into all employment generation activities.
In his opening remarks, the director of the employment and wages department, in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr John Nyamali, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to present and launch the Decent Work Country Programme III document for immediate implementation.
He said the Decent Work Country Programme is the main strategic framework through which ILO meets its mandate of supporting poverty reduction and sustainable and productive job creation in the country in alignment with the national development plan.
The priorities he mentioned are job creation for women, men, youth, and persons with disabilities, rights at work, and extension of social protection.
The Director said with the newly developed Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III, “Nigeria is taking a decisive step in promoting decent work as a key component of its national development. I therefore call on the social partners and other stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to the implementation of the DWCP III.
In her remarks, the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia and liaison office of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Dr Vanessa Phala, chronicled the robust journey and process of developing the DWCP by all the major stakeholders.
