Labour Minister receives ILO Country Director; pledges closer collaboration

From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos

Minister for Labour and Employment Simon  Lalong has assured the International Labour Organisation 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 Signatory to.

The Minister was speaking when the county Director of ILO Vanessa Phala paid him a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.

The Minister appreciated the support and collaboration of the ILO over the years particularly in 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 very much ready to take the relationship with the ILO to a higher level.

Lalong also assured the ILO team that Nigerian will continue to work on implementation of all the protocols it has ratified as a way of building confidence within the country and at the international level.

Earlier in her remarks, the ILO Country Director who also oversees Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ecowas, Vanessa Phala said they were at the Ministry to congratulate the Minister and Minister of State for their appointments and to assure them of the readiness for more collaboration with the Federal Government.

She said the ILO will stay steadfast in ensuring that Nigeria attains the National Employment Policy, effectively deal with the 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 is commendable.

She urged the Minister to pursue the priorities of job creation, enterprise development, social protection and the establishment of the National Labour Advisory Council which will enhance dialogue and minimise industrial disputes through proactive measures.