Nigeria, Philippines Strengthen Cooperation on Labour and Migration

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of the Philippines have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in labour relations, migration management, and technical exchange. The decision followed a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Philippine Secretary of Migrant Workers, Hon. Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

Ambassador Tuggar commended the Philippines for its globally recognized model in managing overseas workers, emphasizing that Nigeria hopes to replicate such best practices under President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy priorities anchored on Democracy, Demography, Development, and Diaspora. He noted the Philippines’ longstanding contributions to Nigeria, particularly in the aviation, maritime, and education sectors.

“Many Nigerians of my generation were taught by Filipino teachers in STEM fields,” Tuggar said. “Beyond technical expertise, these engagements have fostered cultural understanding and people-to-people ties.”

Tuggar also revealed plans to reform Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) program established in 1987 to deploy Nigerian professionals to other developing nations—into a revenue-generating and globally integrated initiative.

Secretary Cacdac, who led a delegation of senior Philippine officials, conveyed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen labour relations with partner countries hosting Filipino workers. He described Nigeria as a “safe haven” for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and requested the creation of a dedicated labour office within the Philippine Embassy in Abuja to improve support and coordination.

“Our goal is to enhance migration governance, protect workers, and ensure mutual learning between both countries,” Cacdac said. “We are committed to building safer migration pathways, sharing technical expertise, and reinforcing anti-trafficking measures.”

The Philippine delegation included Deputy Minister for International Cooperation John Al Rasul, Assistant Secretary for Pre-Employment Concerns Juleen Abito, and Director for Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Human Trafficking Giant Mendez.

Both countries are working to finalize nine pending bilateral agreements, with a proposed tenth focused specifically on labour and diaspora welfare. Talks will continue with Nigeria’s Ministry of Labour to explore joint programs on capacity building, information exchange, and procedural streamlining.

Tuggar described the collaboration as strategically aligned with Nigeria’s foreign policy agenda, while Cacdac reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers.

“This partnership is about dignity, safety, and respect for workers,” Tuggar said. “We want Nigerians abroad to enjoy the same protection Filipino workers receive worldwide.”