*Say quality public services, social protection key to long-term solutions for displaced persons
By Michael Oche
Public Services International (PSI) and its affiliate unions in Nigeria have called on the federal government to strengthen access to quality public services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country.
The unions also argued that Nigeria’s National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons, though aligned with international standards, remains largely humanitarian in focus and does not adequately address the structural issues required to achieve durable solutions for displacement.
They stressed that the policy should adopt a rights-based and public service-centred approach that prioritises strong public institutions, protection of workers, decent work opportunities, sustainable financing and accountability mechanisms.
The call was made during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement and national advocacy meeting on internally displaced persons held in Abuja under the theme, “Policy Gaps, Opportunities and Roles of Trade Unions in National IDP Response.”
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the PSI National Coordinating Council (NCC) in Nigeria, Comrade Aliyu Mohammed, said Nigeria’s growing displacement crisis requires stronger policy implementation and improved service delivery across IDP camps and host communities.
Mohammed noted that while Nigeria has adopted policies aimed at protecting displaced persons, there remains a need to domesticate and enforce existing frameworks to improve the welfare of millions of IDPs across the country.
He said the meeting brought together trade unions, government agencies and civil society organisations to identify policy gaps and develop strategies for strengthening support systems for displaced populations.
According to him, stakeholders must focus on promoting quality service delivery in areas such as healthcare, education, social welfare and employment opportunities for displaced persons.
“We need to ensure that government and other employers of labour promote prompt and quality service delivery among IDP camps across the country. Stakeholders must critically examine areas that require strengthening and harmonisation, particularly within the framework of the Decent Work Agenda,” he said.
Also speaking, PSI Project Officer, Aisha Bahadur, emphasised that trade unions have a critical role to play in disaster management and response, noting that many displaced persons are also union members.
“The IDPs are also our members. The situation is not what it was when we started. Things have changed and we must pay attention to these changing dynamics,” she said.
She warned that occupational health and safety concerns are often neglected during emergencies and disaster situations, leaving both displaced persons and frontline workers vulnerable.
Aisha also highlighted the growing impact of climate change on displacement, noting that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and require stronger institutional responses.
“We are seeing more and more climate-related disasters and we need to develop responses to them. People affected by climate disasters need our voices and our protection,” she said.
She added that lessons from the experiences of displaced persons would help unions and public institutions improve the services and support provided to affected communities.
Also speaking, Chinwe Nwachwukwu from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said while Nigeria has made significant progress in developing legal and policy frameworks for the protection of IDPs, the major challenge remains implementation and coordination among stakeholders.
According to her, the commission is responsible for providing protection, care, maintenance and durable solutions for refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons, but cannot achieve these objectives without strong partnerships.
She commended PSI for its sustained advocacy, noting that the organisation played a key role in pushing for the approval of Nigeria’s National IDP Policy and the domestication of the Kampala Convention, which has now become law in the country.
“Policies and laws are not lacking in Nigeria. What is lacking is adequate implementation and monitoring of progress towards the solutions we are providing for IDPs,” she said.
Nwachwukwu explained that the domestication of the Kampala Convention has created a framework for holding relevant actors accountable and tracking compliance with both the convention and the National IDP Policy.
She identified poor coordination among institutions and stakeholders as one of the major obstacles to effective IDP response, noting that many actors often work in silos without sufficient alignment with existing policy frameworks.
To address the challenge, she said the commission developed a National Strategy for Durable Solutions, designed to align national, state and local interventions, as well as state action plans, to ensure a more coherent and effective response to displacement.
She added that the commission would continue to work with partners and stakeholders to improve the lives of internally displaced persons and their host communities across the country.
National President of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Dr. Kabiru Ado Minjibir, in his goodwill message commended PSI for its longstanding partnership with Nigerian workers, particularly through capacity-building initiatives, training programmes and projects aimed at strengthening the knowledge and skills of health workers.
According to Minjibir, the collaboration has continued to enhance the welfare and professional development of health workers across the country, while strengthening labour solidarity within the public service sector.
Our correspondent reports that in awhat has been tagged Abuja declaration, PSI and its affiliate unions called for increased investment in public healthcare, education, water and sanitation, housing, social welfare and employment services delivered through adequately funded public institutions.
The organisation also urged authorities to provide better protection for frontline public service workers, including health workers, teachers, social workers and emergency responders who support displaced populations.
PSI further advocated the expansion of social protection programmes, including universal health coverage, income support and disability benefits, as well as labour market integration initiatives that would enable displaced persons to access decent work.
