ILO’s contribution to the end of poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and it became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946. ILO's mandate for pursuing action against poverty is contained in the Philadelphia Declaration of 1944 , which states that "poverty constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere". ILO has a long history of work on poverty reduction both at the policy level and in practice. This work is now being reinforced in the context of the international commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The four pillars of ILO's work, namely rights at work (without them, men and women will not be empowered to escape from poverty); employment (the principal route out of poverty is productive work); social protection (safeguards against poverty); and social dialogue (the participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations in shaping government policy for poverty reduction); are mutually reinforcing in addressing poverty reduction. The ILO is currently developing ways of promoting a more coherent approach to addressing poverty reduction as a means for achieving decent work for all.

The FGN/ILO Cooperation Programme in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the ILO interacts with Government officials at the highest level through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and other social partners like Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, National Planning Commission, Federal Bureau of Statistics, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, etc.

Highlights of ILO Activities
Building the Foundation for Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Anglophone Africa (closed 31.03.06); Elimination of Child Trafficking in West Africa (closed 30.09.06); Programme Against Forced Labour and Human trafficking (closed 31.06.06); Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in the Cocoa Plantations and Commercial Agriculture (closed 30.04.06); Actuarial Assessment of Liabilities of National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Technical assistance to the Federal Government to host the First African Conference on Cooperatives (September/October 2006). A comprehensive review of the labour laws was carried out within the framework of USDOL-funded project titled, “Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work and tripartism” (2001 –2005). Five draft bills on (a) Collective Labour Relations (b) Labour Standards (c) Labour Institutions (d) Occupational Safety and Health and (e) Employees’ Compensation were produced and officially submitted the Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

• High level policy advice: the ILO is a member of the National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS and other national consultative bodies/committees. At the request of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the Office has assisted the Federal Government to draft a National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). The ILO contributed to the Nigeria Employment Summit convened by the Economic Adviser to the President.
  
• Decent Work Country Programme: A draft DWCP for Nigeria was formulated in November 2005. The document is under finalization. Priorities are: (i) Job creation for women and youths through self-employment; (ii) Elimination of human trafficking and child labour and (iii) Prevention and mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS in the world of work. As part of the implementation of the DWCP, an Occupational Safety and Health policy has been developed and State level interventions on youth entrepreneurship have been initiated. Support is provided to the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association on SME development.
  
• Turin Centre collaboration: The Office has assisted constituent partners and other Nigerians to secure partial/full fellowships to participate in various courses organized by the Turin Centre.
  
• ILO/IPEC NIGERIA Achievements: 3000 ex-child workers withdrawn rehabilitated and reintegrated; 375 trafficked children rescued and repatriated, 380 Parents trained in entrepreneurship skills and provided with tools; 2 Emergency shelters for rescued children established in Akwa Ibom and Kano states; capacity of over 400 officials of partners enhanced to initiate child labour programmes
  
• ILO/IPEC-WACAP Achievements :ILO-IPEC WEST AFRICA COCOA/ COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE PROJECT (WACAP), a pilot project of ILO/IPEC aimed at addressing child labour problems in six (6) cocoa producing communities of Ondo State was launched in Nigeria on 28 October 2003; 1007 child workers withdrawn from cocoa farms and placed in schools, 55 family members of ex-child labourers empowered. Government and its agencies assisted financially and technically.

Contact for media : Pius Udo, Tel: 08036335988 or 08023169359 E-mail: udo@ilo.org
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