Nigeria Outlines Key Priorities to Foster Responsible and Inclusive Business Practices
18 June 2025
Nigeria’s tripartite stakeholders have outlined priority actions to promote responsible and sustainable business conduct for the realization of decent work in line with the ILO MNE Declaration. At the National Dialogue held in Abuja on 27-28 May 2025, representatives of the government, employers, and workers, identified common priorities and areas for collaboration to unlock the full potential of multinational enterprises' activities to contribute to the realization of decent work for sustainable and inclusive growth. The dialogue was organized by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the ILO and with the financial support of the Government of France.
Abuja (Nigeria) - The Federal Republic of Nigeria hosted a National Dialogue on “Promoting Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices for the Realization of Decent Work” in Abuja from 27 to 28 May 2025 in collaboration with International Labour Organization (ILO) and with the financial support from the Government of France.
The event served as a critical platform for sharing experiences and agreeing on follow-up actions needed to foster good business practices aligned with principles of international labour standards. It brought together prominent national stakeholders, including senior representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as representatives from the Government of France, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the International Trade Union Confederation – Africa (ITUC-Africa) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) was the guiding framework for the discussions. The ILO MNE Declaration is the only international instrument on responsible business conduct jointly adopted by governments, employers, and workers. It aims to encourage the positive contribution of business to development and the realization of decent work, and to minimize and resolve the difficulties to which their various operations may give rise.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, representing the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone emphasized the timeliness of the national dialogue as Nigeria - Africa’s largest economy - is aiming to attract responsible investment that translates into more decent jobs. She also highlighted the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote inclusive development.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment of Nigeria, Mrs. Olaolu Olaitan, Director of the Inspectorate Department, affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing responsible and sustainable business practices as key drivers for achieving decent work. She noted that the national dialogue closely aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasizes economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusivity. She underlined that the insights and outcomes of the discussions would provide essential guidance for driving concrete actions that advance Nigeria’s long-term development goals.
Driving decent work and inclusive growth through responsible business conduct
Key topics addressed during the two-day meeting included current opportunities and challenges associated with the operations of multinational enterprises in Nigeria, emerging good business practices in line with the MNE Declaration and initiatives taken by national stakeholders and home countries of multinational enterprises to promote responsible business conduct for the realization of decent work.
The dialogue led to specific follow-up actions and recommendations to advance decent work in Nigeria through responsible business conduct, in line with national development goals and the ILO MNE Declaration, notably to foster the contribution of business to training and skills development, job creation and local economic development and to contribute to the elimination of child and forced labour. The participants emphasized the relevance of the guidance provided by the ILO MNE Declaration in the Nigeria context and expressed interest in designating national focal points to support its promotion and implementation.
The participants also recognized the importance of integrating responsible business principles into investment contracts and fostering collaboration across sectors. They also highlighted the need to strengthen social and food security systems through universal social protection, better coordination, and data improvements; as well as the need for supporting SMEs and for creating an enabling environment for inclusive economic growth by supporting SMEs. They recognized that this required improved coordination among social partners, alongside raising awareness on responsible business conduct.
Building momentum
The national dialogue reflects Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to the realization of decent work and the priorities of Nigeria’s Agenda 2050, which seeks to foster economic diversification, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
It builds on a series of efforts to promote responsible business conduct for the realization of decent work, including a national workshop on the MNE Declaration and other international instruments on responsible business conduct that was held in Abuja in November 2023 and during which participants developed a roadmap to advance sustainable business practices. It further draws on two workshops organized in Lagos and Abuja in October 2024, which convened more than 160 participants from both multinational and local companies, strengthening cross-sector engagement and reaffirming a shared commitment to responsible business practices to advance decent work.