The Employers’ Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria (EAPEAN), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have called for stronger collaboration among key institutions to promote ethical recruitment and improve labour migration governance in Nigeria.
The call was made at the conclusion of a two-day stakeholders’ consultative dialogue on fair recruitment and labour migration governance in Nigeria, organised by EAPEAN in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with support from the ILO.
The dialogue brought together representatives from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Discussions centred on building consensus and strengthening fair recruitment systems aligned with international standards.
During the closing session, participants underscored the need for stronger institutional cooperation to prevent illegal recruitment and promote decent work for Nigerian migrant workers. They urged that deliberations from the dialogue be translated into concrete actions to enhance accountability and transparency.
Stakeholders also proposed that the NAPTIP clearance certificate be made mandatory for all travel agencies engaged in labour migration to ensure effective oversight of cross-border employment processes.
“NAPTIP, NIS, and EAPEAN must form a joint committee. We need to work together, share information, and contribute sincerely to national development,” they resolved.
The Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Dr Vanessa Phala — represented by Mr Austin Erameh, Employment and Migration Officer at the ILO Office in Nigeria — said fair recruitment must protect the rights of migrant workers.
Phala noted that the ILO was pleased to support the dialogue, adding that the discussions would help develop a clear framework for fair recruitment and labour migration governance in Nigeria.
The NLC Focal Person on Migration, Mr Eustace James, stressed that adopting ILO Conventions 143 and 181 was critical to promoting fair, transparent, and rights-based recruitment practices.
“These conventions emphasise transparency and fairness to protect migrant workers from exploitation, abuse, and discrimination, while ensuring respect for their rights, including freedom of association,” he said.
EAPEAN President, Dr. Nzeribe Okegbue, said the dialogue was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s labour migration governance through capacity development, policy coherence, and stakeholder collaboration.
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the path to opportunity is safe, transparent, and just — that no Nigerian’s work ambition becomes their vulnerability,” he stated.
EAPEAN Executive Secretary, Mr. Jide Afolabi, added that the workshop was designed to contribute to the development of a draft framework to guide labour recruitment practices in the country. He noted that continued stakeholder engagement would further enhance fair recruitment and strengthen Nigeria’s overall labour migration governance.
