Nigeria, ILO boost social security policy implementation with training

Nigeria's federal government, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has initiated a capacity-building training program for senior officials involved in social security policy. The five-day workshop, titled “Transforming Leadership Training on Social Protection,” is being held in Abuja under the European Union-funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) project, with support from UNICEF.

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This training is particularly important as Nigeria continues to advance policies and programs aimed at expanding inclusive, equitable, and sustainable social protection for all, especially vulnerable and underserved populations, building the capacity of policymakers at all levels of governance is critical

Franca Adiekwele, Director of Social Security at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, highlighted social protection as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, and social justice. She stressed the critical need to build the capacity of policymakers at all governance levels to ensure social protection policies are well-designed, effectively implemented, monitored, and responsive to the evolving needs of the Nigerian population.

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This is why strengthening social protection remains central to the ILO’s mandate and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the commitment to leave no one behind

Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, underscored the importance of robust social protection systems in safeguarding citizens, preserving livelihoods, and fostering economic recovery. She noted that strengthening social protection is central to the ILO's mandate and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the commitment to leave no one behind.

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The decisions taken by institutions represented in this room influence the lives of millions of Nigerians, particularly those facing poverty, vulnerability, unemployment, disability, old age, displacement and economic shocks.

Phala emphasized the significance of the gathering, bringing together senior policymakers and implementers who shape Nigeria's social protection landscape. She acknowledged the complex global context of overlapping crises, economic uncertainty, climate disasters, health emergencies, conflict, and rising inequality, making effective social protection more vital than ever. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) representative, Chris Onyeka, also highlighted the need for effective policy-making in this area.

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The world continues to experience multiple and overlapping crises, economic uncertainty, climate-related disasters, health emergencies, conflict, and rising inequality.