By Joan Nwagwu
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have called for a worker-centred approach to climate transition in Nigeria.
Ms Inviolata Chinyangarara, ILO Senior Specialist on Workers Activities/ACTRAVCO, Abuja Office, made the call on Monday at a two-day Tripartite Post-COP Review Workshop in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The workshop was organised by the ILO and NLC.
She said climate change had become a labour market reality, affecting livelihoods, workplace safety and productivity across key sectors of Nigeria’s economy, requiring urgent policy responses.
Chinyangarara noted that extreme weather conditions were disrupting agriculture, transport, construction and energy sectors, while increasing occupational health and safety risks for workers nationwide.
According to her, climate policies must prioritise decent work principles to ensure protection of workers during the transition to a sustainable and inclusive green economy.
“Climate policies are labour policies. The transition to a sustainable economy must ensure that no worker is left behind,” she said.
She emphasised the need for Nigeria to align climate strategies with employment creation, social protection frameworks and workers’ priorities under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Chinyangarara added that social dialogue among government, employers and workers remained essential for achieving balanced and sustainable climate outcomes in the country.
She said a just transition should promote decent jobs, reskilling programmes, social protection and respect for workers’ rights in emerging green sectors.
She added that it would continue supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, capacity building and integration of labour issues into climate and development policies.
Also speaking, NLC General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, called for worker-centred global climate transition policies and fair financing mechanisms for developing countries.
Ugboaja, who was represented by Mr Eche Asuzu, the National Coordinator of the Climate Change, Just Transition for NLC, urged prioritisation of socio-economic transformation in Africa through green industrial policies, energy sovereignty and equitable climate financing systems.
“Trade unions welcome adoption of the Belem Action Mechanism at COP30, now institutionalised by UNFCCC as the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM).
“We demand that trade unions take up an active stakeholders’ role in the Just Transition Mechanism through formal decision-making power,” he said.
Ms Nanman Kash, member of the Climate Change, Just Transition and Green Jobs, said the workshop would strengthen tripartite dialogue, scale up climate action and integrate climate justice into labour policies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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