The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), with support from the Solidarity Center West Africa, have called on the federal government to expedite the implementation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the workplace.
Speaking in Abuja during a two-day workshop on C190, the labour unions and Solidarity Center West Africa emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive framework to address Gender Based Violence in Nigerian workplaces, citing the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence against women and men.
Roseline Ubah, a member of the NLC National Administrative Council (NAC) told journalists that organised labour is concerned that despite the ratification by the Nigerian government two years ago, little progress has been made in implementing the convention.
“We want to see it work. We want to see it practicalized.
We want to see our lawyers, judges, and courts using it as a reference in the dispensation of justice,” she said.
Ubah highlighted the challenges of GBV in workplaces, where victims often fear speaking out due to stigma and loss of jobs.
“But we want a situation where if you report, the provisions of C190 are there to protect the survivors of GBV,” she emphasised.
Also speaking, Vanessa Edeboh, the Gender specialist with with Solidarity Centre said 40 countries have so far ratified the C190, noting that the Convention is designed to ensure that workers have a safe work environment that is free of gender based violence and harassment
She expressed optimism that Nigerians will begin implementation of the C190.
Comrade Hafsat Shuaibu, the TUC women commission chairperson while speaking with journalists said Gender based harassment comes in different ways and forms, noting that the C190 protects everybody, including domestic workers.
She commended the Federal government for taking a step in ratifying the convention, but added that government should take one step better in ensuring that it begins the implementation process
“it is about time that the implementation of this convention takes place”
She said the unions will pay advocacy visits to key agencies of government, including national assembly to campaign for the speedy implementation of the Convention.