ILO Governing Body elects new chair

Addis Ababa, June 19, 2023 (FBC) – Abiodun Richards Adejola (Nigeria), has been elected chairperson of the International Labour Organization’s Governing Body for the period 2023-24.

Adejola has been Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations Office at Geneva since 2021. He was previously Deputy Head of Mission at Nigeria’s Embassy to Ethiopia and Deputy Head of Mission at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union in Addis Ababa, it is learned.

He was elected by consensus at the 348th Session of the Governing Body on 17 June 2023 and assumed his role as chair with immediate effect, according to ILO’s official press release on Monday (19 June).

Catelene Passchier (Netherlands) was re-elected as the Worker Vice-Chairperson. Renate Hornung-Draus (Germany) was re-elected as the Employer Vice-Chairperson.

During the meeting, the Governing Body discussed questions arising from the 111th International Labour Conference, which closed on 16 June, and adopted the report of the Committee on Freedom of Association. It considered a report on a meeting of experts on the revision of statistical standards on informality and adopted a decision on the Russian Federation’s continuing aggression against Ukraine, and its impact on the world of work.

It is noted that the ILO Governing Body, comprising 56 representatives of Governments and Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations, takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the ILC, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, and elects the Director-General. It meets three times a year, in March, June and October/November. Its next meeting will be held as from 30 October 2023.