Domestic workers in Nigeria have renewed calls for legal protection, unionisation, fair wages, and political inclusion as stakeholders gathered in Abuja for a one-day Democratic Participation Workshop organised by CEE-HOPE Nigeria in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa.
The workshop, held at CEE-HOPE’s Regional Office in Kurudu, Abuja, brought together domestic workers, labour rights advocates, journalists, and civil society actors to discuss strategies for strengthening the voices of domestic workers within Nigeria’s democratic and labour systems.
Speaking at the event, veteran labour and women’s rights advocate with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hauwa Mustapha, urged domestic workers to become active participants in governance and democratic processes. She stressed that democracy must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens, regardless of their social or economic status.
Mustapha encouraged domestic workers to understand their civic rights and responsibilities, participate actively in elections, and engage public institutions to ensure their concerns are reflected in national policies and programmes.
Also speaking, veteran women’s rights advocate, Ms. Ene Edeh, highlighted the persistent challenges facing domestic workers across the country, particularly women and young girls who are often subjected to exploitation, abuse, discrimination, and denial of basic labour protections.
She called for stronger advocacy, increased public awareness, and policy reforms aimed at safeguarding domestic workers and promoting dignity, fairness, and respect within the sector.
Senior Editor and Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D, Mrs. Chizoba Ogbeche, reaffirmed the media’s commitment to amplifying the voices of vulnerable workers and ensuring their concerns receive adequate public attention.
She assured participants of continued media support while urging domestic workers to uphold professionalism, integrity, and good conduct in their relationships with employers, noting that mutual respect remains essential for sustainable working relationships.
In his remarks, cleric Wilson Idoko emphasised the importance of knowledge and self-development, citing the biblical principle that people perish for lack of knowledge. He encouraged participants to understand both their rights and responsibilities while pursuing personal growth and development opportunities.
He further urged domestic workers to embrace values of integrity, honesty, love, and dedicated service, stressing that good character and faith remain critical foundations for success in life and work.
The workshop forms part of an ongoing national campaign by CEE-HOPE Nigeria to advance the rights, welfare, and recognition of domestic workers across the country.
CEE-HOPE, the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection, has consistently advocated for the unionisation of domestic workers, legal reforms, and institutional safeguards to address widespread exploitation within the sector.
The organisation noted that domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable categories of workers in Nigeria, often operating without formal contracts, legal protection, or access to justice.
CEE-HOPE has also continued to push for the passage of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill, which seeks to tackle issues including forced labour, unpaid wages, sexual abuse, and child exploitation.
Executive Director of CEE-HOPE, Betty Abah, has repeatedly stressed that unionisation is essential to ending the isolation of domestic workers, arguing that collective organisation would strengthen their ability to negotiate fair working conditions, resist abuse, and seek justice.
Participants at the workshop observed that as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, domestic workers must not remain excluded from democratic participation. They called for increased political awareness and inclusion to ensure labour and social protection policies reflect their realities and experiences.
The event ended with renewed calls on government agencies, lawmakers, labour unions, civil society organisations, and the media to collaborate in protecting domestic workers and recognising domestic work as a legitimate profession deserving dignity, respect, and legal safeguards.
Participants reaffirmed that the rights of domestic workers are non-negotiable and must remain a priority in Nigeria’s pursuit of social justice, inclusive governance, and human rights protection.
