Category: Nigerian Tribune

National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has intensified efforts to boost the automotive local content market through a proposed Bill that seeks to strengthen the capacity of the subsector as the most critical in the industry.

Speaking at a stakeholders engagement on Tuesday in Abuja, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Hon. Enitan Dolapi Badru said the Bill would expand the regulatory mandate of the NADDC, reposition the agency with the aim of improving enforcement and compliance with rules in the auto sector.

He said, ‘We have to take the initiative; the former act did not give the agency the wherewithal and the authority to enforce. It was voluntary, but with the act, they will have the power to enforce and make sure that things are done properly.

‘.So when you buy a brand new car and you use it for a while, then, you need some parts, the new mandate will ensure that you have those parts available here in the country,’ he stated.

Also speaking at the engagement, the Director General of the NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, explained that the new mandate will boost investors’ confidence, improving growth opportunities for industry.

‘We are going to develop the component part, we are going to generate more foreign exchange, and then we will be able to build a robust and sustainable auto industry’.

He stated that it was important for Nigeria to build an auto industry that will rely on itself within the auto industry, and then be able to build its own secondhand market within the country.

‘As it is now, the second-hand market is currently coming from outside the country. But if you have a solid one, a sustainable one, that will solve one of the major challenge of the industry,’ he emphasized.

The DG said close to 70%, or even more than 70%, of the components of the automobile have been recycled. ‘And through circular economy, you see people bringing in different parts, so that is why we need this bill to address all these inadequacies, gaps and shortcomings in the automotive sector’.

Earlier in his address, the Director, Policy, Planning and Strategy, Mr. Umar Nura Sidi, noted that the Nigerian automotive sector has struggled for so many years, and part of the reason is because of policy somersaults.

‘We are gathered here to renew our act to make it better. We have studied where we have had challenges, and we have seen where we can actually overcome these challenges for a better Nigerian automotive sector’.

He assured stakeholders that their contributions were vital in growing the automotive industry in Nigeria.

NADDC hopes to get the bill passed by the National Assembly before the end of the current administration.

The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has returned Nigeria to the global tourism marketplace with its participation in the ongoing World Travel Market (WTM) London.

The event, one of the world’s leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) shows, opened on November 3 at the ExCeL London Exhibition Centre in the United Kingdom.

The Director-General of the NTDA, Mr Ola Awakan, who led the Nigerian delegation to London, shared the Nigeria Pavilion with the Tribune Tourism Editor at the opening of the MICE event. He said the participation fulfilled his promise to take Nigeria back to major global tourism fairs.

According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to be absent from global platforms where the future of the travel and tourism business is negotiated.

The Nigerian Pavilion at the ExCeL London is fully branded and equipped with promotional and marketing materials designed to showcase the country’s tourism assets to the world.

Materials on display include destination brochures, investment guides, cultural artefacts, video documentaries and digital screens projecting Nigeria’s diverse attractions.

Destinations such as Obudu Mountain Resort, Yankari Game Reserve, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Kano Durbar, Lagos beaches and the Calabar Carnival are among the attractions being showcased to investors and tourists at the event.

Awakan said the Authority’s presence at WTM London would provide an opportunity for business-to-business (B2B) meetings with global tour operators, airlines, investors and destination management companies.

He explained that the participation was aimed at driving inbound tourist traffic and attracting foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s tourism value chain.

He said, ‘This is a promise kept. We promised to take Nigeria back to the world and bring the world to Nigeria. WTM London is where the world gathers, and Nigeria must be present. Today, we are here proudly showcasing our country.’

Industry stakeholders have described Nigeria’s return to WTM London as a strategic and timely intervention that they believe will reposition the country in the global tourism market.

They noted that WTM London attracts over 40,000 travel professionals, 4,000 exhibitors and international media, with the potential to generate billions of dollars in travel deals.

For many practitioners, the current participation evokes memories of the vibrant attendance witnessed during the tenure of former Director-General, Otunba Segun Runsewe.

They observed that the period of aggressive destination marketing and a strong presence at global fairs, which characterised Runsewe’s administration, appeared to have returned under Awakan.

A Nigerian tour operator based in the United Kingdom, who spoke on the sidelines of the event, said other heads of agencies should emulate the NTDA chief.

He said, ‘What Otunba Runsewe started in terms of visibility is being consolidated by Awakan. This is how to market a destination. Other DGs should take a cue from him.’

It would be recalled that Awakan, upon assuming office, promised to reposition the NTDA and revive Nigeria’s bilateral tourism engagements.

Observers say the WTM London outing indicates that the Authority is following through on its commitment.

The NTDA Director-General added that the Pavilion would host cultural displays, investment pitches and media engagements throughout the three-day event.

The event, which runs from November 3 to 5, is expected to provide Nigeria with opportunities to secure partnerships and deals that could have a positive impact on job creation and economic growth.

Stakeholders have congratulated the NTDA Director-General, Mr Ola Awakan, on Nigeria’s return to WTM London, describing it as a new dawn for the nation’s tourism industry.

They expressed optimism that more positive developments would follow in the coming months.

ACROSS Nigeria’s sprawling commercial centres and quiet educational institutions, millions of citizens spend between eight and twelve hours every single day seated at desks, classroom benches, and computer workstations. Behind this ordinary picture of daily work and study lies a severe public health crisis that is developing silently across decades. Chronic low back pain and progressive spinal deformation have become widespread conditions affecting Nigerians of all ages. Clinical studies and physical assessments across the country reveal that over 65% of citizens regularly endure severe postural strain caused by standard, unergonomic furniture. The cumulative impact of sitting on poorly designed seats begins in early childhood, worsens throughout secondary and university education, and culminates in debilitating musculoskeletal disorders during peak working years.

The evidence of early postural damage is clearly documented in primary school classrooms across North-Central Nigeria. A 2026 study conducted by Abdulraheem and Abdulrasak from the University of Ilorin, published in the Journal of Environmental Spectrum, evaluated six hundred and twelve primary school pupils aged six to twelve years across Ilorin Metropolis. The researchers measured key physical body dimensions against standard classroom furniture parameters and discovered alarming physical mismatches. Seat height exceeded the lower leg height in 68 % of pupils, desk height exceeded sitting elbow height in 74%, and seat depth exceeded buttock to popliteal length in 59%. These physical incompatibilities forced young children into forward trunk flexion, unnatural shoulder elevation, and dangling feet without ground support. The study established that exposure to unergonomic furniture during formative physical growth creates a direct foundation for long-term spinal misalignments.

As students progress into secondary education, the physical strain intensifies due to the widespread practice of supplying identical furniture sizes to growing adolescents. A 2023 study led by Dr. Aiyegbusi and his colleagues at the University of Lagos examined secondary school classrooms in Lagos State. The researchers found that manufacturing homogeneous furniture without considering adolescent growth variations creates severe anthropometric mismatches. This continuous physical mismatch was identified as a direct primary risk factor for adolescent spinal deformities, establishing a pattern of postural overload that students carry into adulthood. Meanwhile, by the time young adults transition into the corporate workforce, decades of uncorrected seating strain manifest as chronic medical conditions. A 2021 investigation conducted by Salihu and colleagues from the National Orthopaedic Hospital Dala in Kano surveyed three hundred office workers across the Kano metropolis. The researchers found a 65.3% prevalence of active low back pain among office staff. Furthermore, 68% of respondents reported suffering from previous musculoskeletal disorders, with 54.4% specifically reporting persistent hip pain. The study highlighted that only 33.7% of office workers maintained proper seating posture and 37.7% had access to an ergonomic chair, demonstrating a widespread lack of supportive seating in Nigerian workplaces.

Addressing this national health challenge requires a clear understanding of how health-focused seating differs from conventional/traditional furniture. In an interview conducted with Mr Endurance Thompson Ukoyo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Thekan Ergonomic Chairs and Table, he highlighted the fundamental difference between ordinary office seating and engineered ergonomic solutions. Unfortunately, it has taken us decades in Nigeria to fully absorb and understand the difference between basic furniture and specialised seating. People often use the blanket term ‘office furniture’ when referring to chairs and tables, without realising there are distinct functional categories. Standard furniture simply provides a place to sit, whereas ergonomic furniture is health-focused. It is engineered to enhance productivity, manage space effectively, and support human anatomy. Just as smartphones replaced basic mobile phones to offer advanced capabilities, ergonomic furniture has emerged to deliver measurable medical, ergonomic, and productivity benefits in the workplace.

Mr Ukoyo explained that the modern Nigerian workday combines extended desk hours with daily commutes, multiplying the risk of physical degeneration over a career. Many professionals do not realise the severe threat posed by spending 8 to 12 hours daily sitting at a desk under work pressure. Prolonged sitting causes physical degeneration and contributes to abdominal weight gain, which people often misattribute solely to diet or lifestyle choices. To compound the issue, after spending 8 to 10 hours seated in an office, workers commute home in Lagos traffic, spending another 3 to 4 hours in the exact same sitting position inside a car. Upon arriving home, they sit in front of the TV to eat dinner and then go straight to bed. This sedentary lifestyle accumulates over 10, 20, or 30 years. Upon retirement, or even after just a decade of work, individuals experience severe chronic waist pain, back pain, knee issues, reduced mobility, and obesity.

The medical effectiveness of ergonomic seating interventions is supported by clinical research in southern Nigeria. A 2023 experimental trial conducted by Ubom Achalu from the Department of Health Education at the University of Port Harcourt, published in the Partners Universal International Innovation Journal, evaluated fifty patients suffering from chronic back conditions at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The trial demonstrated that introducing adjustable ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable desks, anti-fatigue mats, and structured posture education significantly promoted proper spinal alignment and brought about measurable reductions in low back pain among both outpatient and spine physiotherapy groups. Technological advancements in active workspace design are also helping professionals maintain continuous spinal health. Modern ergonomic seating features multi-directional adjustments including four-dimensional armrests, adjustable seat depth, dynamic recline mechanisms, and customisable lumbar supports that adapt to individual spinal curves.

In addition, automated smart power tables incorporate built-in height controls that automatically raise the desk to a standing position after two or three hours of sitting. This automated feature encourages workers to alternate between sitting and standing, stimulating blood circulation and relieving continuous pressure on the lumbar spine throughout the working day. Despite these proven health benefits, financial perceptions remain a primary barrier to widespread adoption in Nigeria. Standard office chairs sell for fifty thousand to one hundred thousand Naira, whereas high-quality ergonomic chairs range between seven hundred thousand and one point five million Naira. Mr Ukoyo addressed this price gap by contrasting the initial purchase price with the long-term cost of medical treatments.

In Nigeria, prospective buyers often ask why they should spend 700,000 Naira or 1.5 million Naira on an ergonomic chair when they can buy a standard chair for 50,000 Naira or 100,000 Naira. While they may look similar visually, functionally they are completely different. Ergonomic chairs are engineered to align joints, support spinal curvature, and prevent muscular strain. After visiting orthopedic hospitals and witnessing patients undergoing knee replacements, hip replacements, and severe spinal surgeries, my perspective changed. Many individuals spend millions in healthcare costs for preventable conditions that stemmed from decades of poor seating. It is surprising that people readily spend 20 million Naira to 30 million Naira on luxury vehicles or high-end real estate, yet hesitate to invest 700,000 Naira in an ergonomic chair that directly protects their daily health and physical mobility.

To make health-engineered furniture accessible across different income levels, manufacturers have developed practical financial solutions. These include tiered product models that preserve core anatomical lumbar support, flexible installment plans for verified employees, and four-year buyback programmes that allow customers to trade in used chairs for upgrade credits. To build local technical capacity and reduce dependence on expensive imports, domestic producers have partnered with public institutions. Government collaboration is vital. We have partnered successfully with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to establish a technical training and manufacturing facility in Akwa Ibom State. We brought in international experts from the US and India to train Nigerian youth in specialized manufacturing skills and build local industrial capacity.

Ongoing academic collaborations between manufacturing firms and Nigerian tertiary institutions, such as postgraduate thesis research at the University of Lagos, continue to build local scientific data on workspace ergonomics. As public health awareness grows, experts emphasize that addressing back pain requires systemic policy changes, including enforcing anthropometric furniture standards in public schools and prioritizing locally manufactured ergonomic products in government procurement. Protecting spinal health from childhood through adult employment is essential to securing the long-term well-being and economic productivity of the nation.

Failing to prioritize proper ergonomics shortens productive careers and forces people to spend their retirement and savings in hospitals treating preventable spinal injuries. You do not need to suffer through that.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has declared that supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the North remain resolute in their determination to secure his re-election in 2027.

Kwankwaso, who made the declaration while speaking with journalists during an APC duty visit to Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, dismissed concerns over the strength of Tinubu’s political support in the region, insisting that there was ‘no panic and no retreat’ among the President’s supporters.

He described Tinubu as the best candidate for the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence that the North would sustain its support for the President despite criticism from opposition parties.

According to him, the administration’s policies and programmes since assuming office in May 2023 have recorded achievements in human and infrastructural development, which he said would strengthen its appeal among northern voters.

‘There is neither panic nor retreat in our support for Tinubu. The criticisms coming from the opposition will not stop us from voting for him in the North,’ he said.

The APC chieftain dismissed persistent opposition attacks on the Tinubu administration, describing them as political manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that political criticism would not diminish the commitment of the President’s supporters, insisting that voters should assess the administration based on its performance rather than opposition narratives.

Kwankwaso identified economic recovery, security, infrastructure, employment and national stability as critical issues shaping political choices among voters in the North.

He said Tinubu’s supporters would intensify grassroots mobilisation and engagement across the region to educate voters on the administration’s policies and achievements.

The APC stalwart also urged party members and supporters not to be distracted by opposition criticism but to concentrate on strengthening party structures and maintaining close contact with the electorate ahead of the elections.

He expressed confidence in the unity of political groups supporting Tinubu, saying they were prepared to defend the administration’s record and seek a fresh mandate based on its performance.

Kwankwaso called on Tinubu’s supporters across the North to remain steadfast, describing the 2027 presidential election as an opportunity for the administration to consolidate its policies and programmes.

Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against intimidating opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is prepared to defend its votes.

Melaye made the statement on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, following an ADC stakeholders’ meeting.

He accused the ruling party of using federal might, security agencies and state institutions to harass and intimidate opposition members, insisting that the ADC would resist any such moves ahead of the elections.

The former lawmaker said the party was prepared for the 2027 polls and would not tolerate attempts to rig or manipulate the process.

‘All Die Na Die, we will defend ourselves in 2027. The ADC will not allow the APC to continue intimidation. We are ready to defend every vote,’ he said.

Melaye also said Nigerians were dissatisfied with what he described as hunger, insecurity, and poor governance under President Bola Tinubu, adding that the ADC was ready to challenge the APC at the polls.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and ensure that the 2027 general elections were free, fair and credible.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has criticised the Kogi State Government for what she described as poor governance and a lack of development, contrasting its record with Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s performance.

The lawmaker spoke in Okene, where she accused the state government of celebrating salary payments without delivering meaningful infrastructure and development projects.

‘Only thugs are being rewarded. No development. Paying salaries is not an achievement. Look at what Abia State Governor Alex Otti is doing in his state, yet you are boasting about paying salaries in Kogi,’ she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said Otti had embarked on major road projects, rebuilt parts of Aba, provided infrastructure, and continued paying workers’ salaries, while Kogi leaders were presenting salary payments as a major achievement.

She maintained that the achievements recorded by Otti within two years were beyond what the Kogi State Government could match in 10 years.

‘What Alex Otti has done in Abia in less than two years, Kogi has not done in 10 years. That man has changed Aba, he has fixed roads, hospitals, schools, and he is still paying salaries. So what are we celebrating here?’ she added.

OGUN State government has commenced the distribution of 20,000 cashew seedlings to farmers in Abeokuta North and Yewa North local government areas to boost agricultural productivity and food security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has said.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this at the flag-off last Friday, in Abeokuta.

Owotomo, represented by the Director of Tree Crops and Rural Development Services, Mr James Oyeshola, explained that the initiative was aimed at empowering farmers economically and increasing agricultural output.

He said the two local government areas were selected because of their comparative advantage in cashew cultivation.

The commissioner assured the government remained committed to agricultural development and strengthening the food production value chain.

He explained that the distribution also aims at helping farmers recover from crop losses caused by irregular rainfall earlier in the year.

In his goodwill message, chairman of the Nigeria Cashew Association, Ogun State chapter, Mr Ganiu Adeniji, commended the government for the initiative.

Adeniji urged the beneficiaries to plant the seedlings promptly and adopt appropriate agricultural practices to ensure good yields and early maturity.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of FAAB Ayoka Group Limited, Mrs Fausat Ibrahim, urged the government to establish a cashew processing factory in the state.

She said local processing would create employment opportunities for youths and increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Similarly, the Director of Agriculture, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Mr Yinka Oyebade, described the initiative as a welcome development for the benefiting communities.

The former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said his campaign in Sokoto will proceed despite alleged intimidation, declaring that the party will resist any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Atiku stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing the press on developments ahead of the party’s campaign in Sokoto.

He said what was unfolding in Sokoto was not ordinary political competition but a calculated campaign to frustrate the ADC, obstruct its campaign and deny Nigerians the freedom to choose.

‘Public facilities that should be available to every political party for legitimate campaign activities have been blocked. Logistical support has been withheld. These are not harmless administrative delays. They are deliberate attempts to deny ADC a level playing field,’ he said.

Atiku alleged that the leadership of the Department of State Services was recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto to create disorder and give the APC-controlled state government a pretext to impose a curfew and prevent the campaign from taking off.

‘We know where some of these protesters are assembled: an office behind Zenith Bank on Koko Road. Trucks are stationed there and dispatched to key points, including roundabout. These mobilised protesters are causing gridlock. Commuters are being threatened and, in some cases, beaten,’ he said.

He said security agencies existed to protect Nigerians and uphold the law, not to recruit protesters or help a political party manufacture a crisis.

‘This is not intelligence work. It is political interference dressed in official uniform. I call on every officer involved to stop immediately and return to constitutional duty of impartial service,’ he said.

Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of devoting too much energy to weakening credible opposition and too little to solving the problems facing Nigerians in the last three and a half years.

‘It has pursued politics of absorption and intimidation, while drawing former opposition figures into APC and narrowing space for political competition. Aim is to reduce Nigeria to one party state in all but name,’ he said.

He said the government was afraid of the people’s verdict, having unleashed a crushing cost-of-living crisis.

‘Food, transport, fuel, electricity and other essentials have become unaffordable for millions. Families are struggling to feed their children, pay school fees and keep their businesses alive. That is record this government should be defending before people, instead of trying to stop rally,’ he said.

Atiku promised to make life affordable again if elected.

‘We will support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce cost of doing business. We will pursue targeted production subsidy tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, so that support reaches consumers through measurable relief while also strengthening domestic industry,’ he said.

He said the APC had still not recovered from the abysmal failure of its last rally in Kaduna and should have taken it as a warning that Nigerians were withdrawing their confidence.

‘Instead, it has chosen intimidation and obstruction. These are last kicks of dying horse. The more this government tries to silence people, the clearer it becomes that it has already lost their confidence,’ he said.

Atiku described the 2027 general election as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.

‘This is more than contest between parties or candidates. It is choice between government that has shown indifference to people’s suffering and Nigerians who have endured enough and want their votes to count,’ he said.

He said the ADC would resist every gimmick, administrative roadblock and underhand manoeuvre designed to exclude the opposition.

‘We will not be intimidated into silence or irrelevance. Our campaign will proceed, and I will be in Sokoto tomorrow, God willing, to address good people of state,’ he said.

He urged the people of Sokoto to remain calm and peaceful and not allow anyone to provoke them. He also urged security agencies to protect commuters, residents and rally participants without favor.

‘To voters of Nigeria, remain resolute. Stand your ground. Democratic freedom is not a gift from any government. It is your right. Do not allow anyone to intimidate you,’ he said.

Atiku added that the ADC would stand with officers who refused to be used against democracy.

‘Those who choose to betray their duty and collude in suppression of political freedom will be held accountable under law. Nigeria belongs to its people, not to any party or temporary occupant of power,’ he said.

Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a Parliamentary Campaign Council as part of efforts to strengthen its mobilisation machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party, in a statement by the Osun APC Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, said the initiative was aimed at consolidating its electoral preparations and ensuring victory for its candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats in the forthcoming polls.

The newly constituted council, comprising selected party leaders and members across the state, is also expected to complement the activities of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The development followed the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council by Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, in Abuja on October 14, 2026, and the subsequent inauguration of the Osun State Presidential Campaign Council on October 22.

He said the establishment of the parliamentary campaign structure was considered necessary to reinforce the party’s existing campaign framework and strengthen its collective drive towards electoral victory.

Lawal explained that the council was carefully constituted to promote effective coordination among party leaders, stakeholders and members, particularly in mobilising supporters across the state.

He said the additional campaign structure would work closely with members of the State Presidential Campaign Council to advance the party’s political objectives and secure victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates.

The APC chairman expressed confidence that the initiative would enhance the party’s preparedness for the elections, stressing that the success of its candidates would depend largely on unity, cooperation and effective grassroots mobilisation.

He urged party members and stakeholders to work together towards achieving the party’s electoral aspirations, assuring that the APC remained committed to a coordinated campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Trade unions led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society organisations, with support from the Solidarity Centre, have called on the Federal and state governments, as well as private employers, to improve wages, expand social protection and guarantee decent working conditions for care workers.

The coalition said care workers, despite their contributions to healthcare, education, childcare and the national economy, remained undervalued, underpaid and inadequately protected by existing labour laws and social security systems.

They made the call on October 29 in Abuja at an event to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Care and Support.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said care work was fundamental to economic productivity and social stability but continued to be undermined by poor wages, unsafe working environments and limited access to labour protections.

The coalition comprises the NLC and the Careworker Advocacy Network, which includes the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

Other partners include Accountability Lab, International Lawyers Assisting Workers (ILAW) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

The coalition noted that care work cuts across formal and informal sectors, involving healthcare and social care workers, childcare providers, domestic workers and millions of women and family members who provide unpaid care for children, older persons and people living with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

It said many paid care workers, particularly domestic caregivers and private health aides, earned below the national minimum wage and lacked access to social security and retirement benefits.

The groups also raised concerns over the disproportionate burden of unpaid care responsibilities on Nigerian women, attributing the situation partly to inadequate public infrastructure, including limited access to clean water, electricity and affordable childcare services.

They identified long working hours, physical strain, inadequate personal protective equipment, harassment and arbitrary dismissal as some of the challenges confronting informal domestic and community care workers.

According to the coalition, many informal care workers are excluded from statutory labour protections and collective bargaining arrangements, leaving them without adequate legal protection, sick leave and maternity benefits.

To address these challenges, the coalition urged the Federal and state governments and private employers to adopt and implement the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) 5R Framework for Decent Care Work.

The framework advocates the recognition of paid and unpaid care work in national economic planning and labour statistics; reduction of unpaid care burdens through investment in social infrastructure; redistribution of care responsibilities; decent rewards for paid care workers; and representation of care workers in policy decisions.

The coalition also called for the ratification and domestication of ILO Convention 189 on domestic workers and Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.

It urged governments to invest in affordable public childcare centres, clean water, rural electrification and specialised eldercare facilities to reduce the burden on households and improve access to care services.

On workers’ welfare, the groups called for the enforcement of the national minimum wage across care services, equal pay for work of equal value, safer workplaces, and access to health insurance and pension schemes.

They also demanded that care workers in both formal and informal sectors be guaranteed the right to join trade unions, engage in collective bargaining and participate in decisions affecting labour and economic policies.

The coalition stressed the need for greater collaboration among governments, employers, households and workers to ensure that care responsibilities were shared fairly between men and women and supported through progressive maternity, paternity and parental leave policies.

It further insisted that care workers must be included in discussions on public infrastructure, social protection and labour budgets, stressing that policies affecting them should not be developed without their participation.