Government, International Labour Organization Launch Second Stage of Initiative to Promote Sustainable Employment Opportunities

The Federal Government has initiated the second phase of the International Labour Organisation's Social Dimension of Ecological Transition Project, underscoring its dedication to ensuring a seamless transition to a low-carbon economy that fosters decent employment, safeguards workers, and promotes inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.

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This project, backed by the French Government through the ILO's technical cooperation programme, was officially launched on Thursday at the UN House in Abuja, convening government officials, employers, workers' organisations, development partners, and climate experts to bolster Nigeria's just transition agenda from 2025 to 2029.

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Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Labour and Employment, stated that the renewed partnership presents an opportunity to transition from policy commitments to tangible implementation, noting that this gathering is crucial as Nigeria intensifies its commitment to climate action that advances decent work, social justice, sustainable enterprise development, and inclusive growth.

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According to Dr Dingyadi, the second phase will expand on the successes of the first phase by supporting sustainable businesses, creating green jobs, and strengthening community resilience, while the programme's renewal from 2025 to 2029 offers a chance to turn shared aspirations into measurable progress for workers, employers, and communities.

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The minister highlighted that the first phase enhanced national capacity through evidence generation, social dialogue, and policy engagement, resulting in the development of Nigeria's Just Transition Guidelines and Action Plan, and stressed that implementation will be the determining factor in the project's success.

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Dr Dingyadi called for collaboration among stakeholders, urging every institution to shift from commitment to coordinated action, and to align their resources, expertise, and social justice platforms behind the implementation of Phase II.

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The minister emphasized that the real test lies in implementation, where commitments must become investments, policies must become programmes, and programmes must yield results that citizens can see and feel, and expressed confidence that Nigeria's climate commitments will deliver decent jobs, stronger enterprises, resilient communities, social justice, and renewed hope for all Nigerians.

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Earlier, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the ECOWAS Liaison Office stated that the project has evolved into a major platform for promoting a just transition in Nigeria, and described it as a collaboration between the International Labour Organisation and the French government through their technical cooperation.

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The ILO Country Director highlighted the achievements recorded during the first phase, including capacity building, where hundreds of government institutions and social partners were trained and provided with capacity on the just transition, and noted that Nigeria's integration of just transition into its NDC 3.0 was a landmark achievement.

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The country director explained that the second phase will focus on promoting durable clean energy solutions and supporting the gradual transition from conventional energy sources to sustainable alternatives, and reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to supporting Nigeria's climate and labour priorities.

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The ILO Country Director stated that the organisation will continue to support the implementation of the renewable agenda and the attainment of Nigeria's policy objectives and priorities, and expressed the organisation's dedication to doing its part in supporting the government's efforts.

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In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, said that lessons from Phase I will guide the implementation of the new phase, and expressed optimism that stronger collaboration and additional funding will help deliver greener jobs and sustainable energy solutions.

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Dr Shoretire noted that data must be well-generated and evidence-based for planning a just transition, and highlighted the importance of learning from the past to inform future actions.

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The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Mrs Tenioye Majekodunmi, stated that climate action must remain people-centred and inclusive, and noted that the council will use the second phase to align implementation of Nigeria's Just Transition Guidelines and NDC 3.0 with practical interventions.

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Mrs Majekodunmi explained that these interventions will include clean energy and clean cooking initiatives capable of creating jobs and reducing poverty, and urged stakeholders to work together to ensure that Nigeria's ecological transition remains fair and sustainable.

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The Director-General emphasized that the social and economic outcomes of this project should be directly contributed by the National Council on Climate Change to preserve solutions, and stressed that emission reduction should not come at the expense of job creation and poverty reduction.

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Mrs Majekodunmi concluded by calling for collective action to build an ecological transition that is green, equitable, and sustainable for generations to come.