The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have urged the Federal Government to take deliberate steps to strengthen labour justice and safeguard industrial peace.
The call was made at NECA’s 4th International Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum (I-LAAF), held in Abuja.
Speaking at the forum, the President of the NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, alleged that labour justice in Nigeria tilts in favour of employers, including the government.
“In a rapidly changing world of work, increasingly defined by exploitation, precarious gigs, and union-busting, the very concept of justice is in contestation. In nations like ours, labour justice sadly bends towards the employers, whether public or private,” Ajaero said.
He urged the judiciary and arbitrators to defend workers against systemic power imbalances, stressing that labour justice is not a concession from employers or the ruling elite, but a right won through struggle.
Ajaero also challenged NECA to ensure that its members and their employees are educated on labour rights, noting that ignorance remains a significant barrier to justice.
Aligning with these concerns, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Muhammad Dingyadi, said access to labour justice is fundamental to industrial harmony, investor confidence, and sustainable economic growth.
Dingyadi noted that in a world shaped by technological disruption, globalisation, and evolving employment models, labour adjudication and arbitration systems must adapt to remain fair, accessible, and efficient.
He said labour justice protects workers from exploitation and discrimination, offers clarity and predictability for employers, and enables government to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to uphold social justice.
According to him, when justice is delayed or inaccessible, productivity declines and social tensions escalate; however, when it is swift and impartial, workplaces and economies thrive.
The minister added that the Federal Government is committed to strengthening labour adjudication mechanisms through reforms aimed at modernising labour laws and enhancing dispute resolution systems.
In his remarks, the President of NECA, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye, described access to legal justice as critical to sustaining enterprise growth and national development.
He said preventing disputes through sound human resource practices and effective communication remains the most sustainable approach. He added that collective bargaining, compliance with labour laws, and proactive social dialogue constitute the first layer of labour justice.
Okoye warned that delays and procedural bottlenecks weaken confidence in the system and increase the cost of doing business, while transparent and professional processes strengthen trust and compliance.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the ILO, Ms. Inviolata Chinyangarara, a workers’ rights expert, said labour justice goes beyond mere compliance with labour laws to building trust and strengthening institutions.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who was represented by the Director of Legal Services in her office, said access to labour justice in the public service begins with clear rules, transparent human resource processes, and effective internal grievance mechanisms.
She added that ongoing reforms to performance management, disciplinary procedures, and digital HR systems are designed to ensure that civil servants can seek redress fairly and without fear.
