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PUSHING DOMESTIC WORKERS RIGHTS: CEE-HOPE ENGAGES MEDIA ACTORS

A cross-section of key stakeholders on labour and human rights recently gathered in Lagos to push forward the campaign for the recognition and protection of Nigeria’s domestic workers. The meeting was organised by the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) as part of its long-term advocacy for the rights, welfare, and unionisation of domestic workers.

Domestic work remains one of the most undervalued and unregulated forms of employment in Nigeria, despite employing millions, especially women and girls. Many domestic workers suffer exploitation, low pay, lack of social protection, and abuse. To address these gaps, the meeting brought together representatives from government ministries, labour unions, civil society, and the media to strategise on concrete actions to improve their working conditions.
The one-day event, held at CEE-HOPE’s House, Agege, Lagos, attracted journalists from various media establishments — both electronic, print, and online. Participants included journalists from The Guardian, The Nation, The Sun, FM Radio, and several others.

The highly interactive meeting was coordinated by CEE-HOPE’s Founder, Betty Abah, and featured speakers including veteran journalist and media trainer Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Services, former Sunday Editor of The Nation Newspaper, lecturer, and Chairman of CEE-HOPE’s Board; Mr. Monday Ashibogwu, publisher of Quick News Africa and media and personnel management consultant; Comrade Taiwo Hassan (aka Soweto), frontline human and labour activist; and Mrs. Ngozi Okoro, women and children’s rights advocate and former Lagos State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN).
Also in attendance were Mr. Rotimi Awojide of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Ms. Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Speakers underscored the need for effective policy reforms and stronger institutional frameworks to guarantee decent work conditions for domestic workers. They also noted that domestic workers deserve the same recognition and labour rights as other categories of workers.
Speakers also emphasised the urgency of passing and implementing key bills currently before the National Assembly — notably, the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights (HB.1765) — which will help domesticate the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which Nigeria is yet to ratify.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to collaborate toward ensuring that domestic workers enjoy dignity, fair pay, safety, and recognition under Nigerian labour law. Stakeholders agreed to strengthen coordination, policy advocacy, and community mobilisation around the protection of domestic workers’ rights.

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