Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Nigeria (Ratification: 1960)

Article 3(1) and (2) of the Convention. Additional functions entrusted to labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that duties other than those provided for in the Convention are entrusted to labour inspectors in the Ministry of Labour General Instruction. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on those additional functions assigned to labour inspectors. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that any functions assigned to labour inspectors do not interfere with the performance of primary functions of labour inspectors as set out in Article 3(1) of the Convention, that is, securing the enforcement of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers and advice to employers and workers.

Article 7(3). Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes that the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) of the International Labour Conference (98th Session, June 2009) requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken by the central labour inspection authority for the purpose of obtaining the necessary funds for the training of labour inspectors.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement, in its report, that orientation and organized induction courses for newly recruited officers are in place, and subsequent training takes the form of capacity-building workshops, either locally or overseas. The Government indicates that the induction training includes, among other subjects, training on labour laws, labour administration, occupational safety and health, the procedures for labour inspections and the writing of inspection reports. The Committee also notes that in June 2014, the Ministry of Labour and Productivity signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Training Centre of the ILO concerning cooperation on a wide range of areas, including capacity-building interventions in labour administration and inspection. The Committee further notes that the Government identifies inadequate training of inspection officers as one of the difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures it is taking to ensure that labour inspectors are adequately trained for the performance of their duties, including measures taken in cooperation with the ILO.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. Annual report on labour inspection activities. The Committee notes that the CAS conclusions took note of the Government’s indication that it was committed to meeting its obligations under the Convention with respect to an annual report, and expressed the firm hope that such a report would shortly be published and communicated to the Office.

The Committee notes that information concerning the number of labour inspectors was submitted with the Government’s report, but that no annual labour inspection report has been received. It notes, however, the Government’s indication that the state labour offices submit weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to headquarters for compilation and analysis. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that an annual labour inspection report, containing information on the subjects listed in Article 21(a)–(g), is prepared and published, and that a copy is submitted to the ILO.