The Federal Government has affirmed that gender mainstreaming will be a core principle guiding its ongoing labour administration reforms.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Muhammad Dingyadi, made this known on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Senior Officers’ Conference of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Keffi.
The conference, themed “Reforming the Labour Administration System in Nigeria,” focuses on overhauling the nation’s labour practices to align with contemporary realities.
Dingyadi stated that incorporating gender considerations into labour reforms would promote equal access to employment for women and vulnerable groups, ensuring they are protected from discrimination.
He highlighted other key areas of the reform, including institutional capacity strengthening, digitisation of service delivery, improved tripartite collaboration, enhanced occupational safety and health coverage, and reinforced accountability and compliance mechanisms.
The Minister explained that the theme of the conference reflects the Ministry’s current priorities and aligns with the national objective of harnessing human capital for sustainable development and global competitiveness.
He noted that the world of work is undergoing significant shifts due to technological innovation, demographic changes, climate change, and globalisation, all of which are influencing where, when, and how people work.
In response to these trends, Dingyadi emphasised the need for a resilient, inclusive, and transparent labour administration system that meets the evolving needs of Nigeria’s workforce.
Describing the conference as timely, he called it an opportunity to reflect, reset, and reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to decent work and equitable labour practices.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Salihu Usman, underscored the need for Nigeria to reassess its labour system in light of global shifts. He noted that technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and new workplace trends were transforming employment landscapes worldwide.
He added that the conference provided a platform to reposition Nigeria’s labour administration for the future.
