Nigeria Launches Revised National Employment Policy (NEP) 2025

Abuja - The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE II) Project implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Government and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has launched the revised National Employment Policy (NEP) 2025. 

The revised policy is a strategic tool that responds to the changing dynamics of Nigeria’s labour market. It aligns with current trends in digital transformation, the green and blue economy, creative industries and remote work, while seeking to improve public employment services, enhance inter-institutional coordination for coherence, strengthen labour market information systems and employment services and reduce unemployment and underemployment across all regions. It represents a renewed commitment to promoting decent work, sustainable growth and institutional accountability.  

The revised National Employment Policy (2025): 

• Seeks to promote structural transformation of the Nigerian economy for the creation of decent and productive employment that contributes to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. 
• Recommends 24 strategic priorities under four strategic pillars, namely: addressing inequality of opportunities, improving employability, promoting job-rich economic growth, and enhancing quality of employment. 
• Crafted to be an entry point for advancing gender responsive employment solutions in Nigeria.
• Recognises the need for environmentally friendly economic activities, which generate employment opportunities in different sectors and enable inclusive economic growth. 
• Emphasises inter-policy coherence with the National Development Plan (NDP), robust institutional strengthening and coordination, and accountability, all in line with national development priorities.    
• Recognises the need to shift attention from the number of jobs created to the quality of jobs, which is critical to addressing decent work deficits given the revised methodology for measuring labour force indicators.  

The launch brought together representatives from the National Employment Council, Federal and State ministries, employers’ associations, trade unions, youth groups, civil society and international organisations, including the UNDP, World Bank, IOM and ILO. 

Congratulations to all partners involved in this milestone. Team Germany remains proud to support the government of Nigeria in advancing youth employment and labour market reform.