ILO commends Nigeria over ratification of conventions on harassment, violence, others

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has commended Nigeria for ratifying two crucial conventions that deal with harassment and violence as well as health and safety.

The two conventions are C187 (2006) Promotional Framework on Occupational Safety and Health and C 190 (2019) on Violence and Harassment.

ILO’s director general, Gilbert Houngbo, applauded Nigeria on Tuesday, in Geneva Switzerland, during the presentation of two Conventions that Nigeria ratified, to the governing body of the organisation by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

According to Houngo, Nigeria’s adoption of both treaties in a single year shows President Muhammadu Buhari’s admirable dedication to establishing decent work and ending workplace violence noting that the country is the first African nation to join the ILO.

Houngbo, while commending Nigeria for her leading role, pledged more technical assistance to enable the country to make more progress in the world of work.

Meanwhile, Ngige during his address commended Houngbo on his assumption of office and described his election as historic being the first African to occupy the position.

Speaking on the two conventions, the minister said, “key amongst the features of convention No.190 that inspired government’s attention is Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which is one of the most prevalent, yet hidden human rights violations, and which constitutes a primary barrier to achieving gender equality, particularly in the World of Work.

“Gender-based violence stands as an impediment towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 5 and 8 on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, and Decent Work and Economic Growth respectively which fall directly within the purview of ILO’s mandate,” Ngige said.

He added that the necessary processes to ensure the effective domestication and implementation of these conventions have commenced.

Ngige noted that the measures include but are not limited to a declaration of State of Emergence by the Nigeria Governors Forum on Gender-Based Violence; the inauguration of the Inter-ministerial Gender-Based Violence Management Committee.

Others include senate approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill in furtherance of the legislative agenda to protect women’s rights; a formal signing of an agreement by the Nigeria Police, National Human Rights Commission, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, to join forces to combat the menace.

The Minister added that the deposit of the two ratified conventions was historic in that is the first time the current administration would ratify two conventions within a year, noting that it has brought to 42, the number of ILO conventions already ratified by Nigeria.

“More ratifications are on the way, especially those on Labour Migration and its supplementary conventions; and Private Employment Agency Convention N0. 181, which are the topical contemporary issues in the world of work today, and these conventions will hopefully come up for deposition on or before the next Governing Body session in March 2023. Their ratifications have been approved by the Nigerian Federal Executive Council.” he said

Ngige urged ILO to assess and collaborate with Nigeria through its country office in Abuja by identifying gaps for technical assistance in the development, improvement, and implementation of required national policies and programmes on all conventions ratified by Nigeria.