New Workplace Gender Policy Underway, Says FG
•Ajaero tasks women to be more proactive
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, has revealed that a new Workplace Gender policy is underway that will address current challenges affecting women in the country.
The government’s move came just as the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero enjoined women to take advantage of their population and assert themselves, exploring available opportunities rather than waiting for legislations.
While speaking at the 2025 NLC National Gender Conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the minister said that the ministry has, “produced a world of work gender policy which is awaiting to be forwarded to the federal executive council for approval”.
He said that a well-structured gender policy within the labour movement will serve as a benchmark for sectors.
According to him, the new gender policy framework which was developed in collaboration with the ILO seeks to reflect current realities and emerging challenges.
Dingyadi assured women of federal government’s readiness to support them in their quest for inclusion and equity in all spheres of life.
Ajaero pledge to support the amendment of the NLC constitution to set aside a certain percentage of NLC funds for the Women Commission.
On his part, the NLC president Joe Ajaero, said that in as much as he shared concerns over gender violence, such attention should be given to all manner of violence currently ravaging the country with a view to addressing them.
Ajaero who declared the conference open said there is need to prioritise actions that unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all where none is left behind in the pursuit of rights, access, empowerment and active participation of women to ensure that women’s voices are heard, rights upheld and dreams are realized in the home, workplace and the society generally.
Ajaero however challenged women to rise up to the challenge of making themselves relevant in the scheme of things rather than dwell on advocacies for review of gender policies.
In particular, Ajaero tasked female workers to take opportunity of their dominance in some of the unions to take control of the leadership.
According to him, NLC seeks through its gender policy to promote gender equality, non-discrimination and harassment of women, equal access and opportunity for all in the world of work and society at large.
He said: “the theme of the Conference which is “Accelerate Action Towards Achieving Gender Equality: Imperative for a New NLC Gender Policy” speaks to the commitment of the Congress in promoting and upholding the dignity of women and all working people.
“We are determined to ensure that women have equal representation in unions and leadership positions.”
While welcoming participants, the chairperson of the NLC Women Commission, Salamatu Aliu, represented by her deputy, said that gender discrimination has denied women of life’s opportunities which have negatively affected their social status.
She said the 6th National Gender conference will provide the opportunity and platform for women in the trade unions to make their input in strengthening the review of the gender policy aimed at enhancing gender equality within the NLC and affiliate unions.
She said the conference will also create the platform for women workers to develop strategies, build synergy and advocacy plan for the social, economic and political advancement, as well as provide a voice for the voiceless especially the women in the informal sector.
“The Theme of the Conference: “Accelerate Action for Achieving Gender Equality: Imperative for a New NLC Gender Policy” is therefore a strategic response in addressing the issue of male dominance in the trade union movement as a result of the patriarchal culture, some negative traditional and religious practices that tend to place women in disadvantaged positions,” she said.
In her remarks, Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Vanessa Phala said the conference was a testament to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in addressing the complexities and challenges associated with gender parity and equality.
She said the ILO was pleased to acknowledge the progress recorded so far by the government of Nigeria and the NLC in this regard.
“One of these achievements is the revision of the NLC Gender Policy which is aimed at fostering gender equality within the NLC, its affiliate unions, and the broader labour movement.
“The easy part is to revise the policy; however, the more engaging part is to implement the tenets of the policy, and the real work begins now. You can count on the ILO for its continued support.
Speaking in support of more women inclusion in politics and governance, Prof. Sam Amadi said that countries with more women participation in governance are doing far better than others.
