ILO launches World Social Protection Report in Nigeria

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has launched its World Report on Social Protection 2017 – 2019, in Abuja, Nigeria; with a revelation that 4 billion people across the world are left unprotected without social protection.

This is the first time the ILO would be launching any of its reports outside the ILO Headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, and Nigeria was to be the first destination.

The report, which takes years to collate is launched in Nigeria at a time when her government in July approved its first national social protection policy; and the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba was elected into the ILO governing board.

Speaking at the Launch of the Report, the ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, explained that 10 countries were initially selected to host the launch, with Nigeria emerging as the final host.

Samuel-Olonjuwon, a Nigerian who was only a few weeks ago appointed as assistant director general of the world body said the flagship report provides a global overview on recent trends in social protection systems, including social protection floors.

The report, according to her, took into account protection in case of maternity, unemployment, employment injury and disability and pension for older persons.

It also presents progress towards universal coverage in health, which is an important dimension in the push for social protection.

She pointed out that despite significant progress in the extension of social protection coverage in Africa, only 17.8 percent of the population receives at least one form of social protection such as cash benefit with significant variation across countries.

She expressed hope that “more countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, will soon be on the list of countries that have attained universal coverage.”

The new report shows that 82 percent of Africans are left without social protection. It also showed that 55 percent, which is 4 billion people worldwide are left unprotected.

In his address, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Prof, Ocheni commended the ILO for choosing Nigeria as host to launch the report.

He said the launch will help Nigeria in implementing its social protection policy; adding that Nigeria is committed to achieving universal coverage.

He said: “I will like to use this opportunity that on our part as a government, we are committed to collaborating to achieve our mutual objective as far as social protection for our citizens is concerned because this is a very crucial part in the life of our citizens.”