Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, announced that job creation is central to the nation’s energy transition plans, with strategies embedded in national policy to ensure workforce protection and inclusive growth

The Nigeria’s Federal Government has unequivocally declared that job creation stands as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s ambitious energy transition plans.

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This significant commitment was revealed by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, while speaking at the IEA Global Commission on People Centred Energy Transitions in Brussels.

Minister Onyejeocha disclosed that labour and employment strategies have been formally integrated into the national energy policy, firmly emphasising that Nigeria’s crucial shift to cleaner energy must unequivocally prioritise workforce protection and inclusive growth.

Green jobs Nigeria are a key focus, with the Minister’s media office quoting her as stating, “Recognising that people must be at the centre of the energy transition, we have embedded labour and employment strategies into our national energy planning.”

She meticulously outlined the government’s comprehensive multi pronged approach, which notably includes the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi CNG).

This initiative aims to effectively harness Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to provide both affordable and cleaner energy, simultaneously generating new employment opportunities across the nation.

Onyejeocha also highlighted the newly approved National Employment Policy, a crucial document that explicitly prioritises green jobs and skills development tailored specifically for women, youth, and workers within the informal sector.

“Our approach is grounded in the principle that the energy transition must create opportunity, not dislocation,” she asserted, underscoring the vital need for robust social protection mechanisms and extensive community engagement throughout this transformative process.

To effectively translate these forward thinking policies into tangible action, the government launched the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) in April 2025.

This dynamic initiative is already making significant strides, actively training auto technicians in the intricate process of converting petrol powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas systems.

Our approach is grounded in the principle that the energy transition must create opportunity, not dislocation.

Concurrently, it is equipping women and youth with essential renewable energy skills, preparing them for the evolving demands of the green economy.

“Through LEEP, thousands of Nigerians are being equipped with new skills for the green economy,” Onyejeocha noted, citing examples such as the deployment of solar kiosks and other innovative projects.

The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to a “just, inclusive, and people centred” energy transition under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She extended a compelling call for global collaboration, stressing the importance of ensuring that the clean energy shift delivers not only profound environmental benefits but also significant economic justice for all.

“We are committed to building a future where clean energy delivers not just sustainability, but shared prosperity and dignity of work,” she stated with conviction.

Minister Onyejeocha explained that these proactive moves strategically position Nigeria as an emerging leader in effectively balancing energy reforms with essential labour market safeguards.

This approach, she suggested, offers a potential model for other developing nations navigating the complex energy transition landscape.

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With the successful rollout of LEEP and the dynamic Pi CNG initiative, the Federal Government aims to conclusively demonstrate that decarbonisation efforts and robust job growth can, in fact, harmoniously coexist.