The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s labour laws to reflect emerging digital, flexible, and technology-driven work arrangements across sectors.
The call was made by NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Adewale Smart-Oyerinde, during the inauguration of the National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) in Abuja, where he warned that outdated legislation could weaken labour regulation and limit Nigeria’s ability to align with global standards.
Speaking at the event, Smart-Oyerinde said existing labour laws no longer reflect the realities of hybrid work, the platform economy, and evolving global employment practices. He stressed that stronger institutions and updated legal frameworks are required to regulate the changing world of work effectively.
“Existing laws no longer adequately capture realities of hybrid work, platform economy and evolving global employment practices,” he said.
He noted that the workplace is undergoing rapid transformation, adding that stronger institutions and modern legal frameworks are needed to guide employers, workers, and regulators. According to him, policies alone cannot deliver the desired outcomes in labour and industrial relations without effective institutions to support implementation.
“Without strong institutions, policies alone cannot deliver desired outcomes in the labour and industrial relations space,” he stated.
Smart-Oyerinde explained that Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem is shaped by shared, yet sometimes conflicting, interests between employers and workers, noting that these differences require continuous engagement and institutional mechanisms to bridge gaps.
He added that both employers and labour unions operate within contradictions that must be carefully managed through effective systems and clearly defined labour institutions.
The NECA Director-General also warned that excesses could arise from both employers and organised labour, stressing the need for structured regulation and stronger accountability mechanisms.
He said labour systems across the world are evolving rapidly and urged Nigeria to keep pace through sustained policy and operational reforms. He reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to strengthening labour and industrial relations institutions to support a more stable, productive, and competitive work environment.
Smart-Oyerinde further called on the Federal Government to prioritise a review of the Labour Act to accommodate hybrid work structures, digital platforms, and emerging employment models.
According to him, updated labour laws would help Nigeria align with international standards while positioning the country’s workforce for future economic competitiveness.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, he stressed the need for continuous dialogue among stakeholders, noting that such engagement is critical to managing emerging workplace dynamics effectively.
He also urged sustained government commitment to reforms aimed at boosting productivity, protecting workers’ rights, and strengthening investor confidence in Nigeria’s labour market.
