NLC urges coordinated reintegration for returning migrants

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a coordinated reintegration programme for Nigerians returning from abroad, especially from South Africa.

The Chairperson, NLC Lagos Council, Comrade Funmi Sesi, made the call on Monday, on the sidelines of a two-day “Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Policy and Practice of Fair Recruitment and Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria”, held in Lagos.

The dialogue was organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association with support from the International Labour Organisation ACTION Project funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation.

Sesi said that many of the returnees possessed valuable skills that could contribute to national development if properly supported.

Responding to a question on recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, she described the situation as “unfortunate”, recalling Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.

According to her, Nigeria committed enormous national resources to the liberation of South Africa.

She, therefore, expressed disappointment that many Nigerians and other African nationals now faced discrimination and xenophobic violence in South Africa.

As a way forward, Sesi proposed tripartite collaboration involving the Federal Government, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, employers and NLC to support the reintegration of returning migrant workers.

According to her, such collaboration should focus on developing structured reintegration programmes that will enable returning migrants to secure gainful employment and rebuild their lives.

She said that many returnees had acquired valuable vocational and professional skills while working abroad and should be supported to deploy those skills productively in Nigeria.

Sesi said coordinated efforts by government, employers’ organisations and trade unions would ease the reintegration process, improve livelihoods and help returning migrants provide for themselves and their families while contributing to national economic development.

Also speaking, NLC Focal Person on Migration, Eustace James, described the xenophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa as “unfortunate and inconsistent with the vision of African unity and improved labour migration governance”.

James disclosed that trade unions were engaging their counterparts in South Africa to develop strategies to address the problem, noting that South African trade unions had already condemned the attacks.

He, however, stressed that condemnation alone was insufficient, hence, called for sustained public orientation and efforts to change negative attitudes towards migrants.

According to him, migration has become a key driver of development, benefiting countries of origin, transit and destination through workers’ contributions to economic growth.

He warned that driving migrant workers away would ultimately harm host economies, which also benefited from migrants’ skills and labour.

James urged African trade unions and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers, promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen labour migration governance across the continent.