– Edoamaowo Udeme
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday began a three-day retreat for the members of the Nigerian House of the Representatives Committee on Diaspora. The retreat which is aimed building the capacity of the House members on Diaspora Issues like trafficking in persons and labour migration, is to enable the Committee to effectively support policy development and implementation in Nigeria. Speaking at the occasion, the IOM Chief of Mission, Nigeria, Mr Frantz Celestin, stressed that IOM recognizes migration as an enabler for development as it has fueled growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, not only in countries of destination but also in countries of origin, hence, “the engagement of the Legislators as they have the highest responsibilities in ensuring the development and implementation of good policies by focusing on concepts and practices that promote social development, equity, economic growth, and environmental quality so as to minimize the impacts of conflict, reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptability”. Celestin noted that “According to the World Bank, Nigerians in the diaspora sent US$21bn dollars home in 2019, making Nigeria the seventh largest recipient of remittances that year. Although official remittance flow declined in 2020 due largely to the impacts of Covid-19, it still maintained its dominance over Foreign Direct Investment”.
“At the local level, remittances benefit households in countries of origin by sustaining lives, education, healthcare, housing, and businesses, and at the national level, remittances contribute to the balance of payments by providing much needed foreign currency reserve”. “In terms of human social capital, the return of migrants can maximize the impact of migration through skills transfer. in the case of recruitment, industrialized countries with ageing populations and high labour needs increasingly benefit from migration as labour migrants from developing countries can boost the workforce of the developed countries”. “In view of its development potentials, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) call for the transformation of migration from the hazardous journey that it is today to a safe, regulated and de-stigmatized circulation of talents and workforce in order to achieve key development outcomes at home and abroad”
“IOM believes that good migration policies are development policies so governments can create enabling frameworks at origin and destination countries to maximize the contribution of migrants to national and local development. It is to this end, and in line with the SDGs and GCM targets, that IOM has been supporting its Member States”. “IOM has been supporting the efforts of the Government of Nigeria to manage migration through capacity-building, advisory services, and technical assistance on migration matters, including migration health and information, assisted voluntary returns, and counter-trafficking since 2001, our support has, amongst other things, resulted in the development of several initiatives to ensure good governance of migration in Nigeria. Top on the list are the development and facilitation for the adoption of the National Migration Policy, National Policy on Labour Migration, and the National Diaspora Policy’.
“The adoption of these policies by the Federal Executive Council is an expression of the Government of Nigeria’s recognition of the benefits of migration and its consequences, hence, this engagement with the Legislators” he added. On her part, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), said that the retreat is quite timely as it is a perfect time to launch good migration policy is a good development policy as good migration policy is a good development policy. Erewa stressed that “Although Diasporans are those who live legally in foreign land, pay taxes and in some cases participate in voting in elections, while the Irregular migrants were either tricked or forced into labour and they have no legal papers” “Nigeria cannot afford to abandon them there, hence, the need for implementing National Diaspora Policy, as the workshop will help the legislators to ensure that the rights of Nigerians in the Diaspora are protected”.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe who said the retreat was “First of its kind” commended IOM for organizing it as “there was the need for the members of the House Committee on Diaspora to understand issues in Diaspora management and utilize it to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora.”
“With approximately 17million Nigerian citizens abroad, Nigeria can utilize its human resources that can be harnessed for national development”
