The Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has emphasized that national development remains a difficult task without industrial peace.
His remarks come ahead of the 3rd Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum (LAAF) scheduled to take place in Abuja in 2025, where Gilbert Houngbo, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is set to headline the event.
Organized annually by NECA, the forum will bring together global and national stakeholders to address key issues concerning labour adjudication, industrial relations, national development, and social justice. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will serve as the guest of honour, while Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, will deliver the keynote address.
Ahead of the event, which is themed “Labour Adjudication and Appellate Jurisdiction: Challenges and Prospects,” Oyerinde highlighted the critical role of industrial peace in driving national economic growth.
He stressed that unresolved labour disputes could hamper productivity and economic stability. He also raised concerns over legal ambiguities that impact industrial relations, calling for stronger enforcement of international labour conventions to protect both workers’ and employers’ rights.
“This forum was created to provide a space for meaningful dialogue among stakeholders in the labour and industrial relations sectors,” Oyerinde said. “With the participation of the ILO DG, this year’s edition represents a significant milestone in the forum’s development.”
A major issue to be discussed at the forum is the impact of excessive government levies on businesses. NECA is advocating for a policy framework that strikes a balance between revenue generation, job creation, and business sustainability.
Oyerinde also noted that Houngbo’s participation underscores the growing significance of the forum in shaping labour policies and industrial relations, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa.
Additionally, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Vanessa Phala-Moyo, described Houngbo’s visit as historic, marking his first trip to Nigeria since taking office in 2022. She acknowledged Nigeria’s important role in the ILO’s history, particularly its previous leadership of the organization’s governing body.
