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ILO, journalists push for stronger resource mobilisation against poverty
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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending the rising tide of casualisation in Nigeria’s labour market by strengthening decent work standards and ensuring that employment generated through local content initiatives aligns with international labour laws.
Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi stated this at the 2025 Annual Labour Conference of the Labour Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (LACAN), Thursday in Abuja.
The event, themed “Local Content, Casualisation and Fair Labour Migration”, brought together labour leaders, policymakers, journalists, and development partners to deliberate on fair employment, job security, and sustainable national growth.
Dingyadi said the Federal Government’s focus on local content was not merely economic policy but a declaration of national self-determination, which will ensure that Nigerians are not spectators but beneficiaries of the industries operating within their borders.
He condemned the spread of casual labour, describing it as one of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s world of work.
According to him, casualisation weakens productivity, social protection, and economic stability. The Minister disclosed that the ongoing review of Nigeria’s labour laws would modernise the country’s legal framework to align with global best practices and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
He also highlighted efforts to promote fair and ethical labour migration, citing bilateral agreements with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar to safeguard the rights of Nigerian migrant workers.
“True local content is not achieved merely by the number of Nigerians employed but by the quality and dignity of the work they perform. A workforce that lacks job security cannot plan for the future or contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian who migrates for work does so under safe, dignified, and lawful conditions,” he said.
Delivering a goodwill message, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Liaison Office for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr Vanessa Phala, commended LACAN for sustaining meaningful dialogue on labour and social justice.
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Phala described the conference’s theme as timely and urged the government to strengthen domestic financing mechanisms for inclusive growth.
She called for innovative financing approaches, including progressive taxation, improved public financial management, and strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors to support job creation, social protection, and skills development.
The ILO chief reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through its Decent Work Country Programme, aimed at reducing inequality and strengthening the labour ecosystem.
“The ILO believes that decent work is the most effective route out of poverty. Governments must mobilise and allocate resources that prioritise the needs of workers, especially those in vulnerable and informal employment.
“These are not just technical solutions; they are pathways to dignity, equity, and resilience.
The challenges are great, but so too is the potential for transformation when we work together, guided by solidarity and a shared vision for a better future,” she said.
Earlier, while declaring the conference open, the Acting National Chairman of LACAN, Patrick Abulu, said the association, through its annual conference, was determined to set an agenda that challenges exploitative systems and inspires homegrown solutions.
According to him, the year’s theme was a clarion call for Nigeria to look inward and mobilise domestic resources to fund anti-poverty and inequality interventions.
The association president noted that casualisation and unfair recruitment practices have become major threats to the dignity of work, urging government and employers to reverse the trend.
According to him, “The solutions to our problems and the resources to fund them must be generated from within. We must plug the leaks in our national treasury and ensure that Nigeria’s immense wealth is mobilised for the benefit of all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.
not finance the fight against poverty while simultaneously creating new poor. The fight for fair labour recruitment is inseparable from the fight for a prosperous and equitable Nigeria.”
