By Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has launched the Decent Work Country Programmes III (DWCP III) to foster improved productivity and healthier workplace relations in Nigeria.
The DWCP III was developed in collaboration with the ILO and based on its founding principles which sees the pursuit for decent work for all workers as a search for social justice.
The DWCP III, with its three key strategic priorities of Job Creation, Rights at Work, and Extending Social Protection, aims to address socio-economic and development challenges faced by workers and the nation at large.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, in a press statement, expressed the commitment of the congress to the pillars of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, emphasising the significance of workers’ rights in creating healthy work environments and fostering peaceful societies.
“We commend the ILO for its tireless dedication in addressing the challenges faced by workers across various sectors.” He acknowledged the pivotal role played by stakeholders, including government agencies, employers’ organisations , workers’ unions, civil society, and the international community, in shaping the future where decent work is not just a right but a reality for all Nigerians.
The DWCP III aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nigeria 2023-2027 and Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025) and aims to accelerate inclusive, private sector-led growth in the country, contributing significantly to poverty reduction, job creation, and the overall improvement of working and living conditions.
“It is our hope that DWCP III of Nigeria which is built around the following key strategic priorities: Job Creation for Women, Men, Youth and 0sons with Disabilities, Rights at Work and Extending Social Protection will facilitate a tripartite process which is anchored on inclusive and participatory social dialogue in addressing the socio-economic and development challenges faced by workers and Nigerians at large.
“We are also hopeful that DWCP III will assist the tripartite in Nigeria deal with the burgeoning Spectre of violence, intimidation and harassment threatening to take over workplace engagements in in the country.
The NLC, as representatives of Nigerian workers, expressed hope that the DWCP III would assist in dealing with these challenges, discouraging any taste for aggression that some actors seem to have acquired.
Ajaero. reaffirmed the commitment to collaborate closely with the ILO, the broader UN family, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved in DWCP III implementation.
“The goal is to ensure that the objectives of DWCP III are achieved, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of decent work and social justice,” he said.