Minister for Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has assured the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that Nigeria will continue to work closely with the body to enhance the welfare and well-being of workers as well as promote the dignity of labour in line with all conventions it is a signatory to.
The minister stated this when the Country Director of ILO, Vanessa Phala, paid him a courtesy visit at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The minister appreciated the support and collaboration of the ILO over the years, particularly in the areas of capacity-building and partnerships that have made the work environment for Nigerians productive and engaging.
He said under President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, the Ministry of Labour and Employment is ready to take the relationship with the ILO to a higher level.
Lalong also assured the ILO team that Nigeria would continue to work on the implementation of all the protocols it has ratified as a way of building confidence within the country and on the international level.
Earlier, in her remarks, the ILO Country Director, who also oversees Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the ECOWAS, said they were at the ministry to congratulate the minister and the Minister of State on their appointments and to assure them of the readiness of the organisation for more collaboration with the Federal Government.
She said the ILO would stay steadfast in ensuring that Nigeria attained the National Employment Policy, effectively deal with matters of child and forced labour, as well as other issues.
The Country Director also commended Nigeria for being up to date in its reporting system, which, she said, is noteworthy.
Phala urged the minister to pursue the priorities of job creation, enterprise development, social protection and the establishment of the National Labour Advisory Council, which would enhance dialogue and minimise industrial disputes through proactive measures.
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