Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Nigeria (Ratification: 1961)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes that the attachments mentioned in the Government’s report have not been provided. The Committee recalls the Government’s previous indication that the revised National Employment Policy (NEP), adopted on 19 July 2017, provides for the establishment of at least two community employment centres (CECs) in all local government areas in the country, which are intended to provide a full range of employment services to jobseekers in both rural and urban areas, including training, referrals, career counselling and information on job vacancies. In this context, the Committee notes the Government’s clarification that there are 774 local government areas in the country rather than 744, as previously reported. The Government also indicates that the labour offices in the country’s 36 states (including in the Federal Capital Territory) each have a section that serves as a public employment centre. The Committee reiterates its previous request that the Government provide specific updated information on the nature, scope and impact of measures taken or envisaged to implement the provisions of theNational Employment Policy (NEP) with respect to the structure and functioning of the employment service. It also once again requests the Government to provide statistical information disaggregated by age and sex, on the number and location of public employment offices that have been established and are in operation, the number of new staff recruited for these offices, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified, and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices. The Committee also reiterates its request that the Governmentindicate the manner in which the employment service, in cooperation with the other public and private bodies concerned, ensures the best possible organization of the labour market with a view to the achievement and maintenance of full, productive and freely chosen employment.

Articles 4 and 5. Consultations with the social partners. The Committee welcomes the Government’s indication that a National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) has been inaugurated, and that issues related to Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention will be discussed at the NLAC’s meetings. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the procedures adopted for the appointment of workers’ and employers’ representatives to theNational Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), as well as on the consultations held within the NLAC regarding the organization and operation of the employment service. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether and to what extent measures have been taken to establish committees at the regional or local level as contemplated in Article 4(2) of the Convention.

Article 6. Organization of the employment service. The Committee had previously noted that some of the employment exchanges and the professional and executive registries in place had been upgraded to model job centres. Noting that the Government has not provided information in response to its previous comments, the Committee reiterates its request that it provide updated detailed information, including disaggregated statistical data, on the impact of the reorganization and restructuring of the employment service under the National Employment Policy (NEP), as well as up-to-date information on the operation of the job centres and their contribution towards meeting the needs of workers and employers, especially in regions with high levels of unemployment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide updated information in relation to the operation of the job centres in all 774 local government areas, including the number and location of community employment centres (CECs), the number and distribution of staff, the training provided to them, and the impact of their activities in ensuring the best possible organization of the national labour market. In addition, the Government is requested to provide information on any additional measures taken or envisaged to respond to the needs of workers and employers throughout the country, particularly in those regions of the country with high levels of unemployment.

Article 7. Particular categories of jobseekers. The Committee had previously noted the provisions in sections 4.7.3 and 4.7.4 of the NEP, which called for the Government to develop and implement a range of measures to ensure the increased participation of women and young persons in the workforce and the full employability of persons with disabilities. In this context, the Committee welcomes the adoption in 2018 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, as envisaged under section 4.7.4 of the NEP. It notes that the Act prohibits discrimination on the ground of disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstance (section 1(1) of the Act), and provides that a person with a disability has the right to work on an equal basis with others, including the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in an open labour market and work environment (section 28(1)). The Act also establishes the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, whose powers include the establishment and promotion of inclusive school, vocational and rehabilitation centres for the development of persons with disabilities, as well as receiving complaints made by persons with disabilities with respect to the violation of their rights (section 37(j) and (n)). The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition)Act, 2018 on access to employment services, as well as any other measures adopted or envisaged to promote the employment of persons with disabilities on the labour market. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee also requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the nature, scope and impact of measures taken to promote women’s employment, including in the framework of the self-employment promotion programmes for women mentorship and the gender-specific career counselling services.

Article 8. Employment of young persons. With respect to measures taken to promote youth employment, the Government reports that section 1(2) of the Finance Act of 2020 establishes an exemption from the payment of the tertiary education tax for small companies with a turnover of up to 25 million naira (approximately US$58,100), with the aim of encouraging youth entrepreneurship. It further indicates that the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) provides a sustainable pool of resources through which young people can access capital support for their businesses. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan 2021-2024 (NIYEAP), developed with the support of the Office, and which is centred around four priority areas of intervention: employability, entrepreneurship, employment and equality of opportunity. It also notes that the NIYEAP is informed by the ILO Call for Action on Youth Employment and aligned with the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. The NIYEAP’s strategic lines of action in relation to employment include strengthening online and offline career information, counselling and guidance services, promoting availability of accurate up-to-date information on jobseekers and vacancies and increasing the capacity of resource and service centres. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the measures taken by the employment services to assist young persons in securing lasting employment and decent work. The Committee further requests the Government to communicate information in relation to vocational guidance, education and training and employment placement services or other relevant services offered by the public employment service with a view to enabling young persons to acquire the necessary skills to enable them to access opportunities for sustainable, decent and freely chosen employment. It reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the specific services and activities provided by the employment service with a view to achieving the objectives set out in section 4.7.1 of the National Employment Policy (NEP), namely generating employment opportunities and promoting skills acquisition for young persons.

Article 10. Measures to encourage the full use of employment service facilities. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information responding to its previous comments on this point. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken or envisaged by the employment service in collaboration with the social partners to encourage the full use of employment service facilities, including specific examples of activities carried out to reach out to employed and unemployed persons throughout the country.

Article 11. Cooperation between public and private employment agencies not conducted with a view to profit. The Government reports that there is effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies (PEAs). In this respect, it indicates that: (i) annual national workshops are organized for PEAs, in collaboration with the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN), on the topics of labour administration, decent work, labour market information and challenges faced by PEAs in the field; (ii) stakeholder meetings are organized with the aim of encouraging exchanges of ideas; (iii) the Ministry monitors PEAs on a yearly basis; and (iv) the HuCaPAN occasionally donates working materials to support the private employment services. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information on the measures adopted or envisaged to promote and maintain cooperation between the public employment service and PEAs not conducted with a view to profit, including with respect to the content and outcome of the annual national workshops held between the public employment service and PEAs.