—As ILO DG, Houngbo headlines 3rd Labour Arbitration Forum 2025 

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — THE Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has said that without industrial peace, national development remains an uphill battle.

This is as the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Gilbert Houngbo is expected to headline the 3rd Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum, LAAF in Abuja, 2025. 

 The annual event, organised by NECA will convene global and national stakeholders to address critical issues surrounding labour adjudication, industrial relations, national development and social justice.  

The event is also expected to have the Vice President, Kashim Shettima as guest of honour and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem as keynote speaker among other stakeholders in the labour sector. 

Speaking ahead of the event, themed, “Labour Adjudication and Appellate Jurisdiction: Challenges and Prospects” in Abuja, the NECA DG said the forum has become a key platform for dialogue among labour stakeholders.

Oyerinde spotlighted the link between industrial peace and national economic growth, stressing that unresolved labour disputes can stifle productivity and economic stability.

He expressed concerns over legal ambiguities affecting industrial relations, calling for stronger enforcement of international labour conventions and protection of workers’ and employers’ rights.

According to him: “This forum was born out of the need to create a space for stakeholders in the labour and industrial relations ecosystem to engage in meaningful dialogue. With the anticipated presence of the ILO DG, this year’s edition marks a significant milestone in its evolution. 

 “Without industrial peace, national development remains an uphill battle, this forum was created to bridge the gaps left by the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), ensuring that labour and industrial relations continue to be at the forefront of economic discussions.”

Another key issue on the agenda is the impact of excessive government levies on businesses with NECA  pushing for a policy framework that balances revenue generation with job creation and business sustainability.

Oyerinde said the participation of Houngbo showed the growing importance of the forum in shaping labour policies and industrial relations, not just in Nigeria but across Africa.

Also speaking, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Vanessa Phala-Moyo, described Houngbo’s visit as historic, marking his first trip to Nigeria since assuming office in 2022. 

She noted that Nigeria has played a crucial role in the ILO’s history, having previously chaired the organisation’s governing body. 

“This visit provides an opportunity for Nigeria’s labor stakeholders to directly engage with the ILO, discussing challenges, opportunities and the future of work,” Phala-Moyo said.

The forum will also serve as a platform for discussions on the global coalition for social justice, an initiative spearheaded by the ILO to address inequality and labour rights worldwide.

 Houngbo is also expected engage in strategic discussions with key labour organisations, including the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Minister of Labour with major focus on resuscitating the National Labour Advisory Council, NLAC, to strengthen tripartite dialogue between government, employers and workers.