ILO urges Nigeria to use its position to influence decisions for Africa

Tue, May 14, 2019 | By publisher


Africa

THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged Nigeria to use its position on the Governing Board of the organisation to influence decisions for the good of Africa continent.

Mr Dennis Zulu, ILO Country Director in Nigeria, gave the advice at a two-day preparatory meeting and ILO Centenary Symposium for delegates attending the 2019 International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 108th Session of the ILC will commence from June 10 to June 21 in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme: “Advancing Social Justice and Promoting Decent Work’’.

Zulu said that Africa looks up to Nigeria to present its issues at the annual global event.

According to him, as you know Nigeria is very important being on the ILO governing body and also Nigeria counts
significantly with the highest number of workers across the continent of Africa.

“Nigeria is not only the populous country but also it occupied a very important position in the ILO and the first ILO office opened in the continent was in Nigeria, Lagos in 1959.

“In addition, unions across Africa look up to Nigeria to add voice to labour issues that affect workers’ in the work place.

“So, the private sector, which is represented by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), NLC, TUC and government, are very important as they are all sitting on the governing body.

“That is why Nigeria is really the leading voice of the workers’ in the continent and Nigeria have to live up to that, ‘’he said.

He, however, said that the major discussion at the forthcoming conference would be on the future of Work Report, which would be presented by the ILO Director-General to the plenary.

According to Zulu, the Future of Work Report is a combination of many years of work, while the report is very clear on what the drivers of the future of work will be.

“Especially now that technology is influencing the way we do things and the way we do our work and ultimately it will influence the way trade unions operate in work place, ‘’he said.

He, therefore, urged participants to ensure that they participate in their large number to influence decisions on child labour, sexual harassment, safety in workplace, and among others that would be beneficial to Nigeria and Africa.

Zulu also said the conference would expect member countries to report on their progress regarding standards and conventions that they have ratified and domesticated into their national laws.

The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the preparatory meeting was to make sure that Nigeria delegates were well prepared to participate effectively during the conference.

According to him, this year is going to be the centenary and already, the agenda bothers on the usual committees, especially the committee on the application of standard where over 40 cases will be treated.

“For example, the issue we have been championing here is about social security and all of you know what the social security in Nigeria is and the fact that it is very low.

“So, we need to prepare our people to know the background knowledge of those committees in place which they can participate in.

“We also have the standard setting initiatives, which deal with the issue of ending sexual harassment and gender based violence. This will be a major discussion at the ILC this year.

“That is why we are going to the ILC with about 50 per cent women, so that we can empower them and also ask them to use the knowledge gained and domesticate same in Nigeria.

“The issue of gender based violence in Nigeria has assumed an alarming proportion in different work places and communities.

‘’We need those women to become the champions of trying to end this issue of gender based violence,’’ he said.

Wabba also said that there would be a major report of the global commission on the future of work part of the centenary initiatives.

The preparatory meeting was organised by the ILO and the organised Labour. (NAN)

– May 14, 2019 @ 19:29 GMT |

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