ILO News (Abuja) – The government of Nigeria, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and development partners have launched a new initiative to place jobs and social justice at the centre of the ecological transition.
The government of Nigeria, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and development partners have launched a new initiative to place jobs and social justice at the centre of the ecological transition. The project is being funded by the French government while the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is supporting its implementation. This launch follows series of previous national consultative engagements including the inauguration of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) on 27th January 2022, and the constitution of the projects’ Inter-ministerial Technical Work Group (TWG) on 18th March 2022. The launch event serves to officially open the project and bring its importance to the attention of the public.
The overall objective of the project is to mobilize the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations and development partners to accelerate climate action with decent work and just transition for all. The more specific goals of the project include, to strengthen institutional and research capacity for the design and implementation of integrated evidence-based just transition policies; strengthen social dialogue mechanisms to helped lay the foundations for a just transition and, develop and pilot just transition policies conducive of job creation. These policies include skills development as well as social security measures for workers in sectors impacted by climate change. It is also believed that lessons learned from this project will inspire other countries and institutions in Africa to initiate just transition mechanisms and policies.
The Chairperson of the steering committee, Dr Martina Nwordu, Director Special Duties/Projects at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, opened the event with a well delivered welcome address, she stressed that the project is particularly important as it aims at providing micro policy interventions to ensure the development of new skills, creation of new jobs and social support to the vulnerable workforce in most affected sectors, as identified in the revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for Nigeria. She also urged participants to look at various roles expected from them as part of their contribution towards achieving the project objectives and supporting local actions in the fight against climate change.
Other speakers at the event include the Director of ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Ms Vanessa Phala, who restated that ILO, and its constituents are committed to ensuring that a just transition to a sustainable future takes place and meets the requirements of decent work in Nigeria. Olivier Chatelais, representing the French Ambassador affirmed the French government support to the project while emphasizing the high priority placed on climate change. The social partners including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also delivered welcome addresses and expressed support for the project in Nigeria. Ms Daju, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, represented the Honourable Minister, Dr Chris Ngige who was on a function outside the country at the time of this event, and delivered the keynote address. She noted that the essence of the just transition initiative is to ensure that no one is left behind. Ms Daju, on behalf of the Honourable Minister declared the event open which also signified the launch of the project in Nigeria.
With the successful launch of the project, capacity building initiatives including trainings and workshops on the Green Jobs Assessment Model (GJAM) will be rolled out for relevant institutions and stakeholders, also studies on linkages between just transition and social protection in Nigeria will be undertaken. The Just Transition and Green Jobs Project in Nigeria is expected to run until December 2024.