The federal government made it known to the public that the issue of unemployment in the country has been creating challenges to the existence of the Nigerian nation. The federal government stated that there is need for immediate provision of measures in order to address the situation at state levels and federal levels, majorly for the aim of ensuring decent jobs and providing productive employment for the job seekers and the teaming youth, through proper delivery of public employment services.
Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, during his speech at the National Conference on Public Employment Services, which was held in Abuja, announced that poor access to labour market information is one of the challenges that is affecting Public Employment Service in the country, Nigeria. Also, Mr. Chris Amadi, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment who represented the Minister, commented that the establishment of the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX) was done by the Ministry to foster employment creation in Nigeria.
Addressing labour market intermediation and unemployment.
NELEX is an electronic platform that promotes employers of labour and enable job seekers to interact virtually and through social media. During his speech at the conference, he expressed his gladness to be a part of the conference, which saw the attendance of renowned and distinguished experts in the sector of development and employment. Also, he affirmed that the presence of all attendees depict their interest in the contribution to the growth of the system by addressing labour market intermediation and unemployment in the country which have made the foundation of the nation weakened and feeble.
Furthermore, Lalong spoke on the appropriateness of the theme of the conference — “Addressing Labour Market Challenges through Delivering of Public Employment Services” — and its timeliness, highlighting the need for government’s intervention to initiate active labour market measures at the state and federal levels, with the aim of providing decent jobs and productive employment for job seekers and the teeming youth population, following the efficient delivery of public employment services. The minister highlighted the functions of Public Employment Service, according to the ILO Convention 88.
Need for facilitation of labour market integration.
According to the Minister, the ILO Convention 88 outlines include taking note of suitable workers’ occupational qualifications, assisting employers to find suitable workers through registering applicants for employment, finding suitable employment, assisting in vocational training or retraining, assisting the people where appropriate to obtain vocational guidance, and evaluating vocation and physical capacity. Also, facilitation of labour market integration to cushion the effect of labour market transitions and obtaining accurate information from employers on vacancies and the requirement to get the job they seek form part of the ILO Convention 88.
Also, the Minister declared that NELEX is established to serve as a one-stop-shop to provide integrated, comprehensive and advanced technology, which will empower stakeholders, employers and job seekers to gainfully access labour market information and employment services. Ms. Vanessa Phala, the Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), buttressed the Minister’s speech that ILO has involvement in policy research, policy advisory services, capacity-building activities and technical support, apart from the provision of support to nations that will help promote employment through social and economic policies.
It has continually aimed to provide support to the Government of Nigeria.
She also made it known that an assessment of public employment services was conducted by the ILO recently as a medium of providing support and engagement. She said that Public Employment Services are considered as a crucial and important contributory component of functional labour market systems. Hence, she stated that based on well-established International Labour Standards, ILO has continually aimed to provide support to the Government of Nigeria, especially through the development and growth of the continuing revision process in the National Employment Policy, 2017.
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