The Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has dismissed reports in a section of the media that Nigeria is lagging behind in Labour Standards Report Rendition to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
A statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Samuel Olowookere said contrary to the incorrect and misleading report, Nigeria has indeed been living up to expectations in discharge of all responsibilities regarding her membership of the ILO.
“ We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that Nigeria has never been found wanting in Labour Standards Reporting Rendition as we have never been sanctioned or brought before the plenary for reasons of failure .Report rendering is work in progress, hence as one report is being rendered some others will be due.
“ It will be recalled that in 2017, Nigeria submitted reports on 10(ten) ILO Conventions as they became due, including the first report on Maritime Labour Convention, which is effectively being implemented now in collaboration with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA)”
“Therefore, the statement purportedly made by an ILO Specialist in Workers Activities and curiously reported only in one of the national dailies is incorrect and should be disregarded.”
“Moreover, the non-convening of the National Labour Advisory Council which the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba alleged in the same report as being responsible for alleged lag is not the appropriate body to assist Nigeria in being up to date in her report. Rather, report writing being very technical in nature will always require special technical expertise and assistance and that is why the Hon. Minister requested same from the ILO.”
He said the Federal Government of Nigeria shall continue to take all necessary steps to meet its Labour Reporting obligation to the ILO.
Further commending the ILO team which is in the country for the technical assistance to Nigeria in facilitating her periodic reports on ratified and unratified ILO Conventions and Protocols, the statement said:
“The Minister deeply appreciates the technical assistance of the ILO in the recent conduct of a practical workshop on report rendition for the Tripartite Labour Constituents of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress (TUC) Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and line Ministries between 26th and 27th June 2018 with the aim of facilitating Nigeria’s readiness for submission of its reports, which will be due for September 2018.”