A non-governmental organisation, CEE HOPE, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D, has urged the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Domestic Workers Documentation and Protection Bill, 2024.
The groups said the bill, if passed and effectively implemented, would help curb the rising cases of sexual assault, forced labour, torture, and the non-payment of wages faced by domestic workers across Nigeria. They noted that the proposed legislation would also clearly define the rights and responsibilities of both workers and employers.
The call was made at a one-day consultative meeting with the media on the Domestic Workers’ Rights Campaign, held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the founder and executive director of CEE HOPE, Ms. Betty Abah, described domestic workers as one of the most violated and vulnerable groups in the country. She lamented that many domestic workers suffer abuse without access to justice, underscoring the urgent need for a strong legal framework to protect them.
Ms. Abah also advocated the unionisation of domestic workers as a critical step towards reducing exploitation.
“In Nigeria, many domestic workers work round the clock, including children as young as seven. Unionisation will significantly reduce abuse and exploitation,” she said.
She further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the bill already passed by the Senate to ensure its full implementation.
Also speaking, the Vice President of NAWOJ, Zone D, Ms. Chizoba Ogbeche, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to advancing the campaign and amplifying advocacy across its chapters in the North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Ms. Ogbeche pledged sustained media engagement to promote the dignity and rights of domestic workers, noting that poor societal attitudes and weak enforcement of existing laws continue to fuel abuse, particularly against underage girls. She condemned the practice of overworking domestic workers while employers’ children enjoy privileges, warning that such actions reinforce cycles of abuse and inequality in society.
The one-day meeting focused on a critical review of the human and labour rights of domestic workers, as well as the need for stronger collaboration with the media to advance advocacy efforts. Discussions also centred on unionisation and the positioning of domestic workers as part of Nigeria’s mainstream labour movement.
