The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for stronger collaboration among government, employers, workers’ organisations, civil society, the media, and development partners to strengthen labour migration governance and improve protection for migrant workers in Nigeria.
The call was made by Eustace James, the NLC’s Focal Person on Migration, during the Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Policy and Practice of Fair Recruitment and Labour Migration Governance held in Lagos. The dialogue was organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) ACTION Project, funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Speaking at the event, James said sustained collaboration among stakeholders was essential to protecting migrant workers’ rights while ensuring labour migration contributes to economic growth and sustainable national development.
He noted that effective labour migration governance would help reduce labour exploitation, human trafficking, forced labour, and other forms of abuse affecting vulnerable migrant workers.
According to James, migrant workers play a vital role in addressing labour shortages, supporting businesses, and contributing remittances that benefit families, communities, and the wider economy.
He said the NLC had remained actively involved in shaping Nigeria’s migration policies since consultations on the country’s first National Migration Policy commenced in 2010.
According to him, the congress participated in the adoption of the policy in 2014, contributed to subsequent reviews, and continues to serve on key national migration committees.
James explained that trade unions have consistently educated prospective migrant workers on safe, regular, and legal migration through advocacy campaigns, community outreach, and workers’ education programmes.
He commended the collaboration among government institutions, employers, workers’ organisations, and international partners, saying their collective efforts had strengthened labour migration governance nationwide.
According to him, workers’ organisations have organised rallies, street campaigns, and community outreach programmes in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Lokoja, and Iwo to promote fair recruitment practices and protect migrants’ rights.
James stressed that labour migration governance should protect not only Nigerians travelling abroad but also migrants living and working in Nigeria.
“A worker is a worker, irrespective of nationality or migration status,” he said.
He added that workers’ organisations have provided counselling, legal assistance, referrals, and reintegration support for returning migrant workers, including the production of information guides to facilitate their reintegration.
James disclosed that the NLC had strengthened protection for Nigerian migrant workers through partnerships with trade unions in destination countries.
He cited the congress’s Memorandum of Understanding with a trade union in Bahrain, describing it as instrumental during a major migrant worker crisis.
According to him, more than 20,000 Nigerian migrant workers faced deportation in Bahrain in 2024 after their work permits expired.
James said the Bahraini trade union engaged the authorities, resulting in the renewal of the permits and enabling the affected Nigerians to retain their employment.
He urged NECA to establish similar partnerships with employers’ organisations in both countries of origin and destination.
James also revealed that the NLC had undertaken assessments of migrant workers’ conditions, identified cases of labour exploitation, and recommended measures to address the challenges.
He encouraged NECA to prioritise capacity building by training technical personnel in labour migration governance rather than focusing solely on senior executives.
According to him, continuous engagement involving the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, employers, workers, and development partners has strengthened the implementation of labour migration policies in Nigeria.
He said such engagement ensures that workers’ perspectives remain central to the country’s labour migration governance framework.
James also emphasised the need for sustained public awareness campaigns to discourage unsafe migration and reduce labour exploitation.
He recalled that the NLC facilitated the return of 11 Nigerians detained in Iraq after receiving information from a migrant workers’ organisation in Ghana.
According to him, the congress alerted the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, prompting swift government intervention.
James said 11 of the 12 detained Nigerians were repatriated within two weeks, while one remained because of a pending criminal case.
“The incident demonstrated the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and rapid institutional response in protecting migrant workers,” he said.
James maintained that migrants should never be described as “illegal”, arguing that undocumented or irregular migration status does not diminish an individual’s right to dignity and protection.
“No migrant should be described as illegal. A person may have entered a country through irregular means or have an undocumented status, but the individual remains entitled to dignity and protection,” he said.
He advocated evidence-based policymaking through regular consultations, surveys, and assessments of migrant workers’ conditions across Nigeria.
James urged employers to grant researchers access to workplaces employing migrant workers to improve policy formulation and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
He also recommended institutionalising workers’ participation in labour migration policymaking at both national and state levels.
He called for greater capacity building for trade unions on fair recruitment, ethical labour standards, and effective labour migration governance.
According to James, Nigeria must strengthen enforcement of labour laws while expanding nationwide awareness campaigns promoting safe and regular migration pathways.
He observed that migrant workers in Nigeria, including Togolese artisans and shoe cobblers, make significant contributions to economic development and deserve adequate protection.
James further advocated stronger bilateral and regional cooperation through African trade union and employer migration networks to improve migrant workers’ welfare.
He also called for expanded access to legal assistance, stronger social protection measures, and improved labour migration data collection systems.
James disclosed that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) plans to conduct a nationwide survey of migrant workers and has engaged the NLC to support the exercise.
He urged NECA to facilitate researchers’ access to workplaces employing migrant workers, saying credible data would strengthen advocacy efforts and support evidence-based labour migration policymaking in Nigeria.
