FG, JIFORM Differ On Migration Laws

Journalists International Forum (JIFORM) has risen against some existing laws on migration in Nigeria, and called for effective legislation to aid migration and its benefits to the country.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Adamu Mohammad Bulkachuwa, had insisted on adherence to the existing laws guiding migration in Nigeria.
Speaking in Calabar at the Cross River State Migration Summit with the theme, “Utilizing The Gains Of Migration To Advance Economic Development In Nigeria”, the President of JIFORM, Mr Abayomi Ajibola and over 300 journalists across the continent, argued that the existing laws in the country had failed to protect the rights to dignity of labour for Nigerians both within and outside the country.
Also, the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu, called for the total review of the nation’s Constitution to allow the states in conjunction with the Federal Government to register, monitor and sanction any erring agents and migration agencies that violated the labour migration policy.
Keyamo said Nigeria had adopted a National Policy on Labour Migration (NPLM) on October 15, 2014, and the International Convention on Protection of all migrants with members of their families, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 97 leading to good labour migration governance guaranteeing decent jobs opportunities for the Nigerian men and women.
While calling for proper documentation of all labour migrants in the country especially those in the property and construction sectors, he, however, admitted that Nigeria must be fully committed to adequate welfare for labour workers.
The minister, however admonished the Cross River State Migration Control Service Agency, and Nigerians or companies to get a valid recruitment license from the Ministry of Labour and Employment before they could operate, maintaining that migration was on the exclusive list.
Bulkachuwa, who is arguably the most experienced legislator since 1999, said the JIFORM President applauded by the audience was drifting towards sensationalism as many Nigerians held captive in the Middle East and elsewhere based on his experience as a diplomat was found wanting and there was a need for all to embrace regulated migration laws.
Buttressing his points, the JIFORM President, Mr Abayomi Ajibola said, “We need not continue to deceive ourselves that there are existing laws protecting the rights of labour workers both within and outside Nigeria. Where were the diplomats when many Nigerians were beheaded in Saudi Arabia for things they knew nothing about?