The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has announced plans to introduce a bill that will mandate the creation of green jobs across Nigeria, with a focus on the inclusion of women and youth in the renewable energy sector.
The proposed law is titled the National Inclusive Green Jobs Act (NIGJA) and was unveiled during the Africa Policy Dialogue Kick‑off Workshop on Green Jobs and Low Carbon Transition at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
A framework for growth
Committee chairman Afam Ogene said the bill will link renewable energy investments to employment generation, targeted skills development, and inclusive participation, while also aligning with regional trade goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He described the bill as part of the committee’s agenda to turn Nigeria’s energy transition into a tool for social and economic development.
“For Nigeria to achieve meaningful and sustainable development, prioritising the interests of women and youth is crucial.”Supporting women and youth
Ogene commended Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for creating the committee as a full standing committee of the House, the first in Nigeria’s legislative history, and referenced a recent House resolution mandating MDAs to transition to renewable energy sources for their power needs.
He stressed the need for gender‑responsive policies, technical training, and employment guarantees in government‑funded renewable energy projects.
“If we truly want a just energy transition, we must place youth and women at the centre of green job creation.”Examples and projections
Ogene cited projects like DARES, Solar Power Naija, and the Next‑Gen RESCO Programme, which is expected to create 10,000 jobs. He added that Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan could create 340,000 direct jobs by 2030 and up to 840,000 by 2060.
He also noted a major skills gap in the sector, with nearly half of skilled labour needs unmet and much renewable energy equipment still imported despite local raw material availability.
“This is not just a workforce problem; it is a policy problem.”International backing
Victoria Manya of INCLUDE Knowledge Platform urged that Nigeria’s energy transition be designed to fix unemployment and gender imbalance.
“Nigeria must design its energy transition as an opportunity to address unemployment, gender imbalance, and systemic exclusion.”She warned that without labour‑based incentives, the transition could worsen inequality. Manya praised the committee’s efforts and confirmed INCLUDE’s support for both NIGJA and the National Green Skills and Employment Alliance (NGSEA).
Citing NBS data, she said youth unemployment stands above 42%, with women disproportionately affected. She also highlighted that less than 5% of TVET programmes are aligned with renewable energy skills.
Collaboration for success
The workshop gathered stakeholders from UNDP, Women in Renewable Energy, private firms, civil society, and the media, and is expected to generate recommendations that will feed directly into the bill’s drafting and refinement.
