The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to include critical voices in national climate change policy formulations.
Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary, NLC, made the call at the opening session of the Post COP29 Review Meeting put together by the NLC Climate Change, Green Jobs and Just Transition Programme with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Ugboaja, represented by Mr. Ismali Bello, Assistant General Secretary, NLC, 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.
“The truth is that 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 said.
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Speaking further, he said “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).
He, however, said that climate change was a workplace phenomenon as most of the emissions happen in and around its corridors, adding that workers were also at the frontline of climate change impact and ruin.
Ugboaja added that this meant that workers through their trade unions must be around the driving seat of climate change policy formulations and actions at all levels as it’s action and associated response measures toll heavily on workers.
“Anything contrary would be an adventure in ghost chasing and grand greenwashing. “It is on this note that we call for the review of the process for the development of the Just Transition Guidelines for Nigeria,” Ugboaja said.
Ms Inviolata Chinyagarara, ILO Senior Specialist Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), in her remarks 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.
Story was adapted from Environews.
