The Federal Government has debunked the report that Nigeria was lagging behind in Labour Standards Report Rendition to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, dismissed the report in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Director Press in the ministry.
According to Ngige, contrary to the incorrect and misleading report, Nigeria has indeed been living up to expectations in the discharge of all responsibilities regarding her membership of the ILO.
“We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that Nigeria has never been found wanting in Labour Standards Reporting Rendition.
“We have never been sanctioned or brought before the plenary for reasons of failure. Report rendering is work in progress, hence as one report is being rendered some others will be due.
“It will be recalled that in 2017, Nigeria submitted reports on ten ILO Conventions as they became due.
“This include the first report on Maritime Labour Convention, which is effectively being implemented now in collaboration with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“Therefore, the statement purportedly made by an ILO Specialist in Workers Activities and curiously reported only in one of the national dailies is incorrect and should be disregarded, ‘’ he said.
The minister also said the non-convening of the National Labour Advisory Council as alleged by NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, has nothing to do with Nigeria being up to date in her report.
He added that rather, the report writing being very technical in nature will always require special technical expertise and assistance and that is why the request was made to the ILO.
Ngige said the Federal Government of Nigeria shall continue to take all necessary steps to meet its Labour Reporting obligations to the ILO.
The minister, however, commended the ILO team, which was still in the country, for the technical assistance to Nigeria in facilitating her periodic reports on ratified and unratified ILO Conventions and Protocols.
He also commended the ILO team on recent conduct of a practical workshop on report rendition for the Tripartite Labour Constituents of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress (TUC) Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was held between June 26 and June 27 with the aim of facilitating submission of reports by Nigeria, which would be due by September 2018.(NAN)