By Faridat Salifu
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Tuesday commended the role of keeping environment tidy being played by waste pickers across the country.
The minister gave the commendation during a stakeholders consultative meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting brought together key figures in Nigeria’s waste management sector to discuss the development of a National Digital Repository for Waste Pickers.
Abbas who was represented at the meeting said the waste pickers popularly called “Baban Bolla,” in Nigeria’s waste management system, often work in informal settings.
“They , are essential to recycling and the circular economy, yet they struggle with negative public perception, poor living conditions, and minimal government support,” the minister declared.
The minister underscored the growing recognition of waste pickers’ contributions to public health, safety, and environmental sustainability.
He called for the formalization and integration of waste pickers into the formal waste management sector, advocating for enhanced training, capacity building, social protection, and a stronger regulatory framework to safeguard their rights.
He also urged stakeholders to collaborate in improving the working conditions and welfare of waste pickers, ensuring their vital contributions to environmental sustainability are recognized and valued.
Chiranjibi Tiwari, representing UNICEF, echoed the Minister’s commendation, noting that Nigeria produces a substantial amount of waste annually, which poses significant health and environmental risks if not properly managed.
He emphasized that waste pickers, who are integral to the waste management cycle from segregation to recycling, are often engaged informally and work under hazardous conditions.
Tiwari highlighted UNICEF’s YOU-CAN (Youth for Climate Action in Nigeria) initiative, which focuses on mobilizing youth and children in plastic waste management, and reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the initiative.
In a speech delivered by Stephen Agugua, National Project Coordinator of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the ILO Country Director addressed the gathering, emphasizing the global challenge of waste management, which generates approximately 2.01 billion metric tonnes of solid waste annually.
He stressed the importance of effective waste management and the potential of the circular economy to create jobs and strengthen local economies.
The ILO reiterated its commitment to the Fair Circularity Principles, which align with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, particularly in relation to the informal waste sector.
These principles include recognizing the critical role of informal waste workers, respecting their rights, and promoting inclusive policymaking with a gender-sensitive approach.
Despite their essential contributions, waste pickers face severe human rights challenges, including income instability, lack of social recognition, exclusion from essential services, and health and safety risks. The creation of a repository for waste pickers is seen as a vital step toward addressing these issues.
The ILO Director expressed gratitude to the attendees and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to a sustainable future that supports decent work for all involved in the waste management sector.
The consultative meeting marks a significant step forward in improving the lives and working conditions of waste pickers across Nigeria, with the goal of integrating them into the formal economy and recognizing their contributions to environmental sustainability.