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The Chief Executive Officer of one of the international labour recruiting companies in Nigeria, Winston Worldwide Heritage Limited, Mr Ahmed Kehinde and his team have backed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in the ongoing fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.

Ahmed, the CEO of Winston Worldwide Heritage Limited, a member of the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, <strong>HuCaPAN</strong>, made this assertion, in his Abuja office on Friday, August 21, 2020, while speaking with our reporter.

He said that <strong>HuCaPAN</strong> always ensures that her members go through due process in labour recruitment exercise both in Nigeria and Oversea.

He said, “Although there are some illegal recruiters who operate without government approval to perpetrate the evil act of human trafficking in the country, they are not members of <strong>HuCaPAN</strong> as the Association does not accommodate unlicensed recruiters.”

He advised the Federal Government to develop and implement a well-structured labour migration management policy which will involve signing a bilateral agreement with the participating countries.

Ahmed said, “This will further help to curb the menace of human trafficking agents and the operation of illegal recruiters across the country.”

He added that Nigeria migrant workers should be treated with dignity following the four pillars of international labour standard, ILOs decent work agenda.

He emphasized that anywhere a Nigerian is found working; he or she must have a decent job.

In a related development, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, has denied the allegation of issuance of Recruiters’ Licence to Private Employment Agencies, PEAs, for human trafficking.

The information was contained in a statement signed by the deputy director.

The statement reads in part:

“The attention of the Ministry had been drawn to publications in the media accusing the Ministry of complicity in human trafficking, especially of Nigerian girls to other parts of the world.

He said, “The Ministry has not issued any recruiters’ licence concerning the placement of Nigerian citizens abroad in breach of the relevant provisions of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004.

“Furthermore, at no time did the Federal Government issue any moratorium against the issuance of recruiters’ licence.

While commenting, the Executive Secretary, Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, <strong>HuCaPAN</strong>, Mr Olajide Afolabi emphasized that the Association operates within the ambit of the laws and that its members do not engage in human trafficking activities saying that they operate within the ambit of relevant laws.

He said, “<strong>HuCaPAN</strong> as an umbrella body of Private Employment Agencies, PEAs, in Nigeria frowns at any act capable of circumventing the provisions of our laws and would not condone any act that could bring the name of the body into disrepute.

“Our members are law-abiding and are faithful to the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria jointly developed by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation, ILO, and other social partners,”Olajide said.