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By Chukwuma Umeorah
As Nigeria gradually transition into the fifth industrial revolution which is driven by improved technology and artificial intelligence (AI), the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba harped on the need for expanding social protection covers and upskilling workers to guarantee security of their jobs.
Speaking at the maiden National Labour Adjudication Forum in Lagos, yesterday, which was organized by Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Wabba admitted that the rapid advancement of technology, particularly AI and robotics and its application in the world of work portends a high risk of job loss for many workers.
However, he noted that new jobs would also be created when workers are fitted with the right skills and knowledge required to align themselves with the modern way of doing work, while also adding that the government needed to expand social protections covers for them to guarantee their jobs.
“As we progress into the fifth industrial revolution, there will be challenges brought about by these new forms of work. This means that we must scale up the issue of social protection to all workers regardless of where they work. We must find ways of expanding the social protection cover to ensure that all of them are protected because they are citizens and they deserve to have a means of livelihood. We do not want anyone to lose their job to robots on account of technology.”
He noted NLC is working assiduously by registering new unions including the informal sector and engaging more stakeholders to ensure that no worker is left under the bridge. On the issue of employer-employee, Wabba stressed the need for improved working conditions, protection of workers’ rights and promoting a symbiotic relationship between workers and their employers to guarantee their willingness to ensure sustainability and profitability of businesses. He also pointed out that workers must enjoy surplus for businesses to flourish.
According to him, “When workers share part of the surplus, businesses will also flourish. It is a fundamental rights and principle of ILO.” He also emphasized the need for collective bargaining, which he said would avert disharmony between both parties and avoidable strike action by workers.
On his part, the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice B.B Kanyip while delivering his keynote address appealed that the rights of workers and employers must be protected. This is even as he urged all stakeholders to always refer to the jurisdiction of the court in resolving trade and other industrial disputes as it lies within the context of the law.
He added that there is a deliberate effort by the legislature to expand the jurisdiction of the court, from mere trade disputes, inter and intra-union disputes to all labour and employment disputes under the Third Alteration to the Constitution dispensation, as can be seen in terms of sections 254C and 254D of the 1999 constitution.
The president of NECA, Taiwo Adeniyi, earlier In his address, stressed the essence of industrial peace to national development. In his words, “I wish to state that the quest for industrial harmony is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders. It is imperative to consolidate our collaboration with organized labour as the nation faces critical issues in the coming months. Our association will continue to urge well-meaning Nigerians to join the advocacy for a favourable environment for businesses to thrive.”
