Nigeria partner with UN on Migration

Labour and Productivity Minister, Emeka Wogu

Nigeria partners with UN on migration
Helen Shok Jok, Abuja

The Chief Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Martin Ocaga, has expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with Nigeria to facilitate a coherent migration management approach among targeted ECOWAS member states through an assessment of national labour migration management.

This it said would be done by promoting legal migration and preventing irregular migration through information provision.

Mr. Martin who was accompanied by the Officer in charge of International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Denis Zulu, made the statement while presenting Draft National Labour Migration Policy to the Nigerian Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu in Abuja.

According to him, “The task before us is to work with you and other partners to formulate this draft policy which has ably been supported by International Labour Organisation and that is why we are here to present this draft copy which has been completed through wide consultations. “

He added that “This has been a long time programme with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, largely on the project which was titled “to facilitate a coherent approach to migration management by focusing on promotion of regular labour migration and prevention of further irregular migration in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Libya to the European Union Member States”.

ILO representative, Mr Zulu said that the organization sees today’s global challenge as forging the policies and resources to better manage labour migration so that it contributes positively to the growth and development of both home and host societies, as well as to the well being of the migrants themselves.

Nigerian Migration Policy

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, in his response emphasized the importance of migration policy to achieve a conducive policy framework that will safeguard the economic interest of the Country.

He said “The National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) is critical for the achievement of a conducive policy framework that promotes regular labour migration and protects the economic interest of the Country. The policy will ensure that we build the skills of Nigerian youths and job seekers to make them ready and compete in the International labour market while on the other hand guarantying that we do not export skills that are in short supply within the Country”.

Chief Wogu assured the IOM and ILO delegates, that he would ensure that the draft policy received the approval of the Federal Executive Council by following laid down procedures in its presentation.

“I will be willing to present the draft policy document to the National Council of States for consideration and adoption by the States Governors, before presenting it to the Federal Executive Council for approval”.

The National Labour Migration policy is largely supported by the European Commission and the Government of Italy to address the important themes of decent work for all, governance of migration, protection of migrant workers, promoting migration and development linkages and expanding international cooperation.

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