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By Chukwuma Umeorah
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has cautioned against the indiscriminate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces, warning that technological efficiency must not come at the expense of human dignity and job security.
Speaking during the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) held in Lagos on Tuesday, Ajaero stressed the urgent need for structured governance frameworks to regulate the integration of AI and emerging technologies in Nigeria’s business ecosystem.
“The imperative before all of us; employers and workers alike; is to ensure that innovation does not eclipse human dignity, and that the efficiency of machines does not erode the rights, livelihoods, and aspirations of the men and women who keep enterprises alive,” Ajaero said.
He emphasised that while technological advancement held the potential to improve business sustainability, it must be deployed in a way that supports decent work and protects social justice.
“AI and the like must work with humanity at its core but this can only happen when we join our hands to consciously create the right governance frameworks.”
Ajaero further noted that the sustainability of enterprises is directly linked to the welfare and wellbeing of their workers, warning against the temptation to adopt cost-cutting innovations that could result in mass job losses.
Reaffirming labour’s commitment to constructive engagement with employers, Ajaero called on NECA to deepen its collaboration with the NLC to ensure that Nigeria’s labour landscape evolves in a manner that is both inclusive and equitable.
While commending NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, describing his openness to labour dialogue as “an uncommon clarity of purpose,” he urged NECA to play a more active role in the implementation of outcomes from the 113th International Labour Conference, particularly those concerning workers in the platform economy.
Ajaero also demanded that the federal government stop appropriating 50 per cent of the contributions made by employers and workers to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as revenue.
He said: “We must work together to protect our Pension and Social Insurance contributions by ensuring that the Board of PENCOM is constituted according to Law and that the government stops appropriating 50 per cent of workers and employers’ contributions in NSITF as its revenue.”
He condemned current efforts by some state governors and members of the National Assembly to remove labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, warning of the potential chaos such a move could unleash on Nigeria’s industrial relations framework.
“These public officials are totally ignorant of the confusion and consequences such action may foist on the nation’s industrial relations clime,” he said, calling on NECA to “mobilize its membership to support our efforts in stopping” the proposed amendment.
Ajaero also stressed the importance of safeguarding Nigeria’s civic space, noting that rising insecurity, repression and economic exclusion pose serious threats to democratic values and business stability.
“A vibrant civic space is the bedrock of democracy, and it is indispensable for the flourishing of both businesses and workers,” he said.
