The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to include critical voices in national climate change policy formulations.
The General Secretary, NLC, Mr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, made this disclosure during the opening session of the Post COP29 Review Meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting was organised by the NLC Climate Change, Green Jobs and Just Transition Programme with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Represented by Mr. Ismali Bello, Assistant General Secretary, NLC, Ugboaja, said such critical voices include the trade unions, women, youths, employees of labour and persons living with disabilities, among others.
He said that such inclusion would help address the problem of climate injustice happening in the country.
“We cannot be complaining of climate injustice at the global arena and be perpetuating the same at the national level through the shutting out of critical voices in the development of national climate change policies for our country,” he stressed.
“I must remind us that as trade unions, we feel a sense of loss at the denial of the key demands made by the working class and even some slips in major wins secured at previous COPs and COP29.
“This includes the situation of workers and their communities as the epicentre of the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP).
“In the processes leading up to COP29 especially the subsidiary bodies meetings, the emphasis on workers and their communities was subsumed under the general blanket of a people centred Just Transition.
“Well, the point is not lost. Even under the canopy of a people-centred Just Transition, we maintain that workers, their families and communities are the major people under consideration,” Ugboaja said.
In her remarks, ILO Senior Specialist Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), Ms Inviolata Chinyagarara, said that the workshop aimed at enhancing trade union advocacy for and contributing to a just transition and green jobs at local, national and international levels.
She added that ACTRAV had been clear on the following key messages which were also a call to action for trade unions; for Trade unions to play an effective part in the Just Transition.
“Building trade unions’ capacity to navigate uncertainty and change, adapting to changing dynamics in the labour markets and changing needs of workers, and positioning themselves strategically for the future is crucial.
“The voice of workers and their trade unions need to be at the centre of just transition and green jobs policy dialogue.
“It is, therefore, crucial for trade unions to build requisite capacities to influence policy makers to develop and consider integrated policy systems.
“This is to ensure policy coherence on how climate and employment goals must go hand in hand. Indeed, this workshop is timely, and it is aimed at scaling up ongoing trade union interventions,” she said.pp))