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…Warns of threats to jobs
Bimbola Oyesola, Geneva, Switzerland
Nigeria has called for a balanced and inclusive approach to artificial intelligence (AI), warning that, while the technology offers enormous opportunities for economic growth and innovation, it also poses significant risks to jobs, workers’ rights and social justice.
Speaking at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, urged governments and international institutions to adopt human-centred AI policies that protect workers while embracing technological progress.
Delivering Nigeria’s statement in response to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General’s report titled “A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work,” Dr.Dingyadi described the report’s theme as both relevant and urgent at a time when AI is rapidly transforming labour markets around the world.
“The world is moving forward at a rapid pace, underpinned by advances in AI, and we as an organisation must match that pace,” the minister told delegates. “While welcoming the positive transformations AI offers, we are also pondering the uncertainties it connotes.”
Dr.Dingyadi said artificial intelligence is already reshaping economies, altering employment relationships, and changing the way work is organised across industries. While acknowledging the potential benefits, he cautioned that technological advancement must not come at the expense of decent work.
“The DG’s Report has highlighted changes we are aware of, and are probably already experiencing in our countries,” he said. “There are expanding labour markets and economies, changes in how work is organised, new forms of employment relationships, as well as technological change that drives policy and institutional innovation.”
The minister warned that AI’s rapid expansion could lead to unintended consequences if governments fail to put adequate safeguards in place. According to him, job displacement and widening inequalities remain serious concerns as automation continues to spread across sectors.
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“These shifts, despite their benefits, also cast a dark cloud of uncertainty,” he said. “Where AI creates new jobs, there may be job losses. Where digital and AI infrastructures are created, there may be a loss of the traditional role and value of the human factor in the work process.”
He stressed that policymakers must pursue a balanced path that allows societies to benefit from innovation while protecting workers from its potential negative effects. “We therefore need a balanced approach that ensures that, while harnessing the benefits of AI, the attendant risks do not rob our societies of the gains of decent work,” he added.
Highlighting Nigeria’s own efforts to embrace digital transformation, Dr.Dingyadi said the Federal Government has taken deliberate steps to position the country as a leader in innovation and technology. He pointed to the establishment of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy as a major milestone in accelerating Nigeria’s digital development agenda.
The minister noted that digital technologies are increasingly being integrated into public sector operations, improving efficiency and service delivery across government institutions. Artificial intelligence, he said, is already playing a growing role in these reforms.
“I’m also pleased to inform you that Nigeria is steadily harnessing the gains of this initiative in our Public Service,” Dr.Dingyadi stated. “There is the service-wide automation of civil service processes and communication with AI playing a significant role.”
He further revealed that platform-based employment is becoming more common in Nigeria, reflecting global changes in the nature of work. As a result, he welcomed ongoing discussions within the ILO aimed at developing stronger protections for workers operating in the digital and platform economy.
According to the minister, emerging forms of employment require updated labour standards capable of addressing new workplace realities while safeguarding workers’ rights and welfare. He said the future of work must be guided by fairness, accountability, and social protection.
Beyond AI and employment issues, Dr.Dingyadi reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding support for reforms within the International Labour Organization. He called for the ratification of the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution and urged a review of the criteria used to determine countries of Chief Industrial Importance.
Such reforms, he argued, would promote greater inclusivity, transparency, and equitable representation within the organisation’s governance structures, ensuring that all regions have a stronger voice in shaping global labour policies.
Concluding his address, the minister urged member states to align the ILO Centenary Declaration and the Global Coalition for Social Justice with national development priorities. He said technological progress must ultimately serve people and strengthen social justice, rather than deepen existing inequalities.
His remarks come amid growing global debate over the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and economies, with governments, businesses, and labour organisations increasingly seeking ways to balance innovation with worker protection in the digital age.
