The delegation during the visit.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has reiterated the commitment of the federal government to ensure that Nigerians seeking jobs overseas do so in a decent way without posing any threat to themselves and the government.
The Ministry further stated that the government is concerned about the welfare of all Nigerians both at home and abroad hence the need to ensure a safe, orderly, and regular labour migration in Nigeria.
These were disclosed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kachollom Daju when the leadership of the umbrella organization of the Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria, the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, HuCaPAN paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
The team was led by HuCaPAN President, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo and received by Daju and other top officials of the Ministry.
However, the Permanent Secretary appreciated the work being done by the Association towards promoting decent jobs for Nigerians stressing, “This is the reason the Ministry with other relevant agencies and stakeholders have come up with the Standard Operating Procedure so that Private Employment Agencies will operate within the confines of the policies and internationally acceptable standards.”
She stressed that the proposed Private Employment Agencies Chief Executives Conference will be used to expatiate the rudiments of the procedure and roles of various stakeholders in the labour migration governance and management in Nigeria.
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Ogunlowo in his speech expressed optimism that the current efforts by the Association and the Ministry would yield positive results as the Standard Operating Procedure, SOP which was drafted by the government with critical stakeholders’ input when deployed would help in no small measures help in containing activities of human traffickers and unlicensed agencies.
Ogunlowo, represented by the Executive Secretary, Jide Afolabi stated, “As you are aware, the Federal government has suspended international recruitment; issuance and renewal of international recruitment licenses since 2018.
“After a series of meetings and follow-ups with the Ministry, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria was drafted and launched recently. Following the launch, our Association organized a Webinar for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
“It was thereafter that the Ministry requested international recruiters to renew their license. We are confident that the speedy process of renewal applications by our members would help to promote regular labour migration in Nigeria.”
He added that “We will continue to campaign against casualization as we believe that it is against the principle of decent work. We are being guided by our Constitution and the Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria which was reviewed in 2021 with technical support from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the International Labour Organisation, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, and other partners.
“To further a decent work agenda in Nigeria, we shall be true to our mantra – anywhere a Nigerian is found working; he/she must have decent work.”
Other dignitaries at the meeting included the Director, Employment and Wages, John Nyamali, the Chief Executive Officers of Winston Worldwide Heritage Ltd and Bright Global Services & Recruitment Company Ltd, Winston Ahmed, and Alimot Tejumade among others.
