The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of the Philippines have pledged to strengthen bilateral ties between both countries on labour and migration among others.
This was the outcome of a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday when the Philippine delegation led by the Secretary of Migrant Workers, Hon. Hans Leo J. Cacdac, was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar at the ministry.
In his Opening Remarks, Amb. Tuggar expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between both countries, saying historical ties dating back to Nigeria’s independence.
The Minister highlighted the valuable contributions of Filipino professionals in Nigeria, particularly in the education, maritime, and aviation sectors over the decades.
“Many Nigerians of my generation were taught by Filipino teachers, especially in STEM fields. These ties extend beyond knowledge sharing, they help build cultural bridges,” Tuggar said.
According to him, under President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy agenda, anchored on Democracy, Demography, Development, and Diaspora, Nigeria is keen on learning from the Philippines’ globally recognized approach to managing overseas workers.
“We want to ensure our own diaspora workers are protected and empowered just as the Philippines does, with dignity, respect, and full government support,” he said.
The Minister also said Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) program, established in 1987, which deploys skilled Nigerian professionals to ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries.
Amb. Tuggar revealed plans to evolve the initiative into a revenue-generating enterprise while also seeking broader international collaboration.
In his response, Cacdac conveyed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s mandate to deepen labour relations with partner countries where Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are employed, including Nigeria.
“We met with some of our nationals here and are happy to see that Nigeria has been a safe and welcoming place for them,” said Cacdac. “We are here to build upon that goodwill and ensure stronger coordination and protection mechanisms.”
The Philippine delegation included high-ranking officials such as Deputy Minister for International Cooperation, John Al Rasul; Assistant Secretary for Pre-Employment Concerns, Juleen Abito; and Director for Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Human Trafficking, Giant Mendez.
They were accompanied by the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja.
Cacdac emphasized the importance of mutual learning between both nations in areas like migration governance, anti-trafficking efforts, and labor systems development. He also formally requested the establishment of a dedicated labor office within the Philippine Embassy in Abuja to better serve the needs of Filipino workers in Nigeria and enhance liaison with local authorities.
“Our goal is to further strengthen people-to-people ties through institutional cooperation. This includes knowledge-sharing on labor practices and building safer migration pathways for our citizens,” Cacdac noted.
In an interview with journalists after a closed-door session, Secretary Cacdac expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its hospitality and for fostering deeper engagement between the two nations.
“We express our profound gratitude to the Honourable Foreign Minister and to the Nigerian government and people for the warm welcome.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given us a clear directive to deepen our bilateral labor relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.”
Cacdac emphasized the Philippines’ interest in strengthening the protection of Filipino migrant workers in Nigeria, describing the country as a “safe haven” for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
He also revealed that the Philippines is exploring the possibility of establishing a Migrant Workers Office in Abuja.
“This will help us better serve our people here and their families back home through specific programs and services,” he added.
Cacdac noted that his delegation would also meet with Nigeria’s Ministry of Labour to pursue discussions on bilateral labor arrangements, capacity building, and information exchange on labor systems and protections.
Secretary Cacdac stressed the importance of mutual information exchange to streamline procedures and improve understanding of each country’s systems.
“Our president has mandated that we ease bureaucratic processes back home, especially for foreign employment
“We are a signatory to the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers, and we uphold the welfare of both our workers abroad and foreign workers in the Philippines.”
Amb. Tuggar said; "It’s an honour and a pleasure to welcome Secretary Cacdac. The Philippines has long been a leader in human resource development, and many Filipinos have contributed immensely in Nigeria, especially in aviation, maritime, and education."
Tuggar highlighted the strategic alignment of this partnership with President Bola Tinubu’s “4D” foreign policy, Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, noting that the Philippines, as a populous nation, fits into Nigeria’s demographic diplomacy.
“We want our workers to go abroad with dignity and protection. We are working on finalizing about nine pending agreements with the Philippines, and Secretary Cacdac has proposed a tenth, focusing specifically on labour,” Tuggar said.