Nigeria will promote social justice and equality for sustainable growth.
At the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) from 5th to 16th June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, Nigeria’s delegation leader, Ms. Kachollom Daju, pledged.
“Injustice and chronic inequity where workers are forced to hazardous, unhealthy and unfair practises does not encourage sustainable development,” Daju said.
The National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health was recently changed to implement government intervention fully. AS REVISED, the ILO Centenary Declaration, Abidjan Declaration, and Basic Principles and Rights at Work are being incorporated into our Future of Work Report.
Daju said Nigeria was committed to “the provision of gainful employment that delivers fair income, security in the work places as well as social protection for all categories of its citizens while offering opportunities for personal development and social integration under the atmosphere of freedom and popular participation for women and men.”
“Our commitment was obviously drafted in our second Decent Work Country Programme 2015-2018,” she said. With ILO Abuja Office technical help, we are awaiting our third phase.
She said plans were underway “to initiate necessary process towards the ratification of ILO Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards) to raise the overall number of ratified ILO Conventions to 45.”
Daju noted that Nigeria was also working on many social protection intervention programmes to maintain the country’s Social Protection Floors and mitigate the effects of global issues.
She added, “We continuously engage with our constituents and development partners towards strengthening our legal and institutional framework to deliver on our expectations with regards to our avowed respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work, provision of full productive and freely chosen employment, social and labour protection, and social dialogue and tripartite institutions.”
Nigeria is committed to creating “an inclusive democratic state and a just society, with focus and main priority on human rights, including labour rights, consistent enhancement of decent work and real income, improving the system of social protection, ensuring gender equality while developing our vast youthful demographic to the fullest,” according to Daju.
Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General, had previously urged for social justice and equality to combat global economic inequality.
