Poor inter-agency coordination undermines labour migration governance — Report

Poor coordination among government agencies is undermining labour migration governance in Nigeria and exposing migrant workers to exploitation, a new policy brief has revealed.

The policy brief on employers’ participation in labour migration governance in Nigeria, obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, identified weak collaboration among key agencies as one of the major factors hindering effective enforcement of labour migration regulations.

According to the report, significant implementation gaps persist at critical control points in the migration cycle despite existing policy frameworks assigning monitoring responsibilities to multiple actors.

The report noted that enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures for private employment agencies remains weak at international airports and other departure points, allowing unlicensed recruiters to continue operating with minimal consequences.

It stated, “These enforcement deficits stem from multiple systemic challenges, including insufficient labour inspectors, limited inter-agency coordination between immigration authorities, labour ministry officials, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, inadequate sanctions for violations, and the absence of adequate information sharing and feedback systems.”

The report warned that the weak coordination among agencies has created loopholes that allow some individuals to obtain travel and employment documents without undergoing pre-departure verification by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“As a result, some migrant workers recruited through unlicensed intermediaries fall outside formal regulatory safeguards, increasing their exposure to exploitation and trafficking risks,” the report added.

The document, however, acknowledged the role of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association in supporting accountability and compliance initiatives through its participation in tripartite and multi-stakeholder platforms.

It stated that NECA contributes to monitoring and accountability functions by promoting compliance with fair recruitment practices and decent work standards through engagements with bodies such as the Labour Migration Advisory Committee for Employers and the Social Partners Advisory Committee Plus.

The report further noted that NECA supported the transition to virtual monitoring meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of social dialogue despite mobility restrictions.

Stakeholders, according to the report, recognised the organisation’s commitment to strengthening accountability mechanisms and collaborating with government institutions and workers’ organisations on compliance initiatives.

However, the report maintained that NECA has limited authority and resources to independently enforce compliance beyond voluntary initiatives within member companies.