By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has said that national development remains an uphill battle without industrial peace.
This came as the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, is expected to headline the 3rd Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum, LAAF, in Abuja in 2025.
The annual event, organised by NECA will convene global and national stakeholders to address critical issues surrounding labour adjudication, industrial relations, national development and social justice.
The event is also expected to have the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, as a guest of honour and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, as keynote speaker, among other stakeholders in the labor sector.
Speaking ahead of the event, themed “Labour Adjudication and Appellate Jurisdiction: Challenges and Prospects,” in Abuja, the NECA DG said the forum had become a key platform for dialogue among labor stakeholders.
Oyerinde spotlighted the link between industrial peace and national economic growth, stressing that unresolved labour disputes can stifle productivity and financial stability.
He expressed concerns over legal ambiguities affecting industrial relations, calling for more vigorous enforcement of international labour conventions and protecting workers’ and employers’ rights.
He said, “This forum was born out of the need to create a space for stakeholders in the labour and industrial relations ecosystem to engage in meaningful dialogue. With the anticipated presence of the ILO DG, this year’s edition marks a significant milestone in its evolution.
“Without industrial peace, national development remains an uphill battle, this forum was created to bridge the gaps left by the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), ensuring that labour and industrial relations continue to be at the forefront of economic discussions.”
Another key issue on the agenda is the impact of excessive government levies on businesses. NECA is pushing for a policy framework that balances revenue generation with job creation and business sustainability.
Oyerinde said Houngbo’s participation showed the forum’s growing importance in shaping labour policies and industrial relations, not just in Nigeria but across Africa.
Also, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Vanessa Phala-Moyo, described Houngbo’s visit as historic, marking his first trip to Nigeria since assuming office in 2022.
She noted that Nigeria had played a crucial role in the ILO’s history, having previously chaired the organisation’s governing body.
“This visit provides an opportunity for Nigeria’s labour stakeholders to directly engage with the ILO, discussing challenges, opportunities and the future of work,” Phala-Moyo said.
The forum will also serve as a platform for discussions on the global coalition for social justice, an initiative spearheaded by the ILO to address inequality and labour rights worldwide.
Houngbo is also expected to engage in strategic discussions with key labour organisations, including the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Minister of Labour with a major focus on resuscitating the National Labour Advisory Council, NLAC, to strengthen tripartite dialogue between government, employers and workers.
