The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Nigeria LabourCongress (NLC) for their efforts to protect workers and promote decent job creation as Nigeria advances its energy transition agenda.
Speaking on Tuesday at the ongoing two-day Tripartite Post-COP30 Review Workshop in Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Director-General of the NCCC, Dr. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, said Nigeria’s climate transition must extend beyond environmental objectives to include worker protection, poverty reduction, and inclusive economic opportunities. She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian worker is excluded from the transition process.
Majekodunmi, represented by Ms. Jummai Vandu, a member of the council, made the remarks during a presentation titled “Operationalising Nigeria’s Just Transition”. The workshop brought together labour leaders, government officials, and other stakeholders.
She said the council remained committed to aligning Nigeria’s climate targets with Africa’s broader aspirations for decent work, structural transformation, sovereign development, and inclusive economic growth across critical sectors of the economy.
According to her, the NCCC strongly believes that a just transition cannot be separated from sustainable development, poverty eradication, and the protection of vulnerable workers affected by global energy and climate policies.
“We firmly believe that a just transition is inseparable from sustainable development and poverty eradication,” she said.
Majekodunmi disclosed that the council was actively supporting major international frameworks designed to address workforce displacement, social protection, and equity concerns arising from the global energy transition.
She identified the frameworks as the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) and the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), both of which are intended to support developing countries implementing climate transition reforms and programmes.
“We champion the Just Transition Work Programme as the multilateral platform necessary to address workforce displacement, equity, and social protection during the global energy transition,” she said.
Majekodunmi added that the council, under her leadership, was promoting inclusive green growth through domestic value-chain industrialisation, workforce reskilling, and expanded economic opportunities for vulnerable groups nationwide.
According to her, the transition process must safeguard the livelihoods of millions of informal workers, farmers, and young people who may be affected by changes in climate and the country’s energy systems.
“We are spearheading efforts towards domestic value-chain industrialisation and targeted workforce reskilling.
“This is to ensure that the transition expands opportunities and protects millions of informal workers, farmers, and youths,” she said.
She reaffirmed the council’s support for the NLC in protecting jobs and ensuring that Nigerian workers benefit from opportunities created through the transition process.
“The creation of decent work is our primary metric for success.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress to protect jobs and ensure that no worker or Nigerian is left behind,” she said.
Majekodunmi also commended the ILO for providing technical support to help Nigeria develop stronger and more portable social protection systems for workers during the energy transition process.
