Nigeria Ratifies ILO Convention on Violence, Harassment in Workplace

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Instrument of Ratification for ILO Convention No.190 on Violence and Harassment.

Convention No. 190 is the first international labour standard to address violence and harassment in workplace. Together with Recommendation No. 206, it provides a common framework for action and a unique opportunity to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect.

These instruments will be key to achieving the objectives set by the ILO Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work, adopted in 2019, which clearly commits to a world of work free from violence and harassment.

Following his assent, the document is set to be deposited with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Kachollom Daju, confirmed this at the opening ceremony of a 2-day Regional Sensitization Workshop on ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment and Eliminating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the Workplace for Professional Officers in the three Northern Geo-Political Zones.

Ms Daju noted that Nigeria is the fourth country in Africa and the eighth in the world to ratify the convention, adding that the ministry has already inserted prohibitions on violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, in the just concluded review exercise of the National Labour Bills.

She stated that the ratification comes with an enormous responsibility and reporting obligation for Nigeria. She called on labour officers in the states to put their best foot forward as they must implement, intercept and intervene in all cases of violence and harassment and other related unfair labour practices in all workplaces after the convention is domesticated.

“The Ministry’s Headquarters will also depend on you to generate and gather data that will be used to develop a comprehensive First Report of Nigeria’s implementation of the Convention to the ILO when the time comes,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary appreciated the ILO Regional Office in Abuja, and the International Labour Office, Geneva, for providing the technical support for the workshop and for its support in ensuring that Nigeria’s Labour Administration System operates in line with international best practices.

On her part, the Director, Productivity Measurement and Labour Standards, Mrs Juliana A. Adebambo, said that to facilitate wide spread and acceptance of the Convention, the Ministry, with technical support from the ILO, had convened a series of preliminary activities across the six Geo-Political zones in the country and the 2-day workshop was first in the lineup.

The opening Ceremony had in attendance very important dignitaries, including the Country Director of the ILO office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mrs Vanessa Lerato Phala.

The convention affirms that everyone has the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment. It also provides for the first internationally agreed definition of violence and harassment in the world of work.