Every year on August 9, the world pauses to recognize the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, a day set aside by the United Nations to highlight the rights, struggles, and contributions of indigenous communities across the globe. In Nigeria, this year’s commemoration has taken on a sharper edge, as advocates intensify calls for the country to ratify the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention 169, a major international treaty designed to protect the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples.
The push is spearheaded by the Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues (NEJII), which, in a statement released Saturday and signed by its Coordinator Adewale Adeoye, urged the Nigerian National Assembly to act swiftly. "Indigenous people in Nigeria face consistent challenges of social, cultural and economic marginalisation. This situation continues to fuel crisis and a deep feeling of distrust among original inhabitants," NEJII stated, as reported by The Nation and corroborated by multiple local news outlets. The group’s message is clear: ratifying ILO Convention 169 would be a historic move toward justice and inclusion for Nigeria’s indigenous peoples, especially the Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOI), whose political and economic rights have been denied for generations.
At the heart of this campaign lies the story of the Abuja Original Inhabitants, a community of over two million people whose ancestral lands form the foundation of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Since the FCT’s creation in 1976, these communities have watched as their lands—described as their most significant asset—were taken over by the federal government, often with little or no compensation. According to NEJII, AOIs continue to live largely in poverty, lacking access to essentials of life, even as Abuja itself flourishes with both private and government investment. The contrast is stark: gleaming new developments rise on land that once belonged to indigenous families, while those same families struggle to make ends meet.
The ILO Convention 169, also known as the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, stands out as the only legally binding international instrument specifically addressing the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. Its provisions are sweeping: it calls on governments to respect indigenous peoples’ unique historical and socio-economic position, their integral connection to their territories, and to protect them against displacement. The convention also emphasizes the importance of consulting and involving indigenous peoples in decisions that affect them, particularly regarding land, resources, and self-determined development.
NEJII’s statement highlighted the urgency of ratification: "The ratification of the ILO Convention 169 will go a long way in removing historical barriers to justice and inclusion faced by Abuja Original Inhabitants." The group argues that adopting the convention would address the "festering scars left on the heart of Abuja indigenous people" since the FCT’s establishment and help heal decades of marginalization.
Globally, the movement for indigenous rights has gained momentum, with the United Nations estimating that some 476 million indigenous people reside in 90 countries, representing more than 5,000 different cultures. In Africa, however, progress on ratifying ILO Convention 169 has been slow. To date, only the Central African Republic has taken this step. NEJII is calling on Nigeria to set a historic record by becoming the second African nation to ratify the convention. "Ratification by Nigeria will lift benefits from the realm of tokens and cosmetic offering to fundamental and institutional approach in dealing with a long-standing problem of deprivation suffered by AOIs," NEJII said, as cited by Daily Post.
Globally, 23 countries have ratified the convention, including 15 in Latin America such as Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. These nations have committed to protecting the rights, lands, and cultures of their indigenous populations, setting a precedent that NEJII and other advocates hope Nigeria will follow.
Despite joining the International Labour Organisation on October 17, 1960, and ratifying many ILO conventions, Nigeria has yet to sign onto C169. According to NEJII, this omission is particularly glaring given the scale of indigenous presence and diversity in the country. The AOIs are just one example among thousands of indigenous communities across Nigeria, each with their own unique culture, language, and history. For many, the lack of legal protection and recognition has translated into a daily struggle for survival and dignity.
The stakes are high. The convention is not merely symbolic—it is, as the United Nations describes, a "key international treaty focused on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples according to the International Labour Organization." It lays out concrete obligations for governments: to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights to land and natural resources, to respect their cultures and ways of life, and to ensure their participation in decisions that affect them. For the Abuja Original Inhabitants, these protections could mean the difference between continued marginalization and a future where their voices are heard and their rights respected.
NEJII’s call to action is not without precedent. Other countries, faced with similar histories of displacement and marginalization, have found that ratifying ILO Convention 169 can be a crucial step toward reconciliation and justice. In Latin America, for instance, several governments have used the convention as a framework for negotiating land rights, protecting indigenous languages, and promoting cultural preservation. In Africa, the Central African Republic’s ratification is seen as a model—albeit an early one—for how legal frameworks can be used to address historical injustices.
The path forward, however, is not without obstacles. Ratifying and domesticating the convention would require not just a vote in the National Assembly, but also the political will to implement its provisions. This means enacting laws that recognize indigenous land rights, providing compensation for past dispossessions, and ensuring that indigenous communities have a meaningful voice in governance. It’s a tall order, but advocates argue that it’s both necessary and overdue.
As the world marks another International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, the spotlight is firmly on Nigeria’s leaders. Will they heed the call to ratify ILO Convention 169 and take a decisive step toward justice for the Abuja Original Inhabitants and other indigenous communities? For now, the answer remains uncertain. But for those who have waited decades for recognition and redress, the hope is that this year’s commemoration will be remembered not just as another day of advocacy, but as the turning point when Nigeria finally joined the ranks of nations committed to upholding the rights of their indigenous peoples.