THE President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has cautioned against the growing use of the judiciary to curtail the fundamental rights of Nigerian workers and labour unions.
Speaking today in Abuja during the 2025 Annual Public Lecture of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), themed “Labour Law and Labour Law Education,” Ajaero emphasized that the courts must serve as a refuge for the oppressed—not as a tool for the powerful to silence workers.
He called for collaboration among stakeholders to promote labour justice as a foundation for industrial peace and social progress, adding that a fair and efficient judicial process was vital to national development.
“For true industrial harmony, those in the judicial process must have a deep understanding of the dynamics within the labour space—the aspirations, strategies, and challenges of both employers and employees,” Ajaero stated.
He criticized government institutions and some private employers for frequently securing court injunctions to prevent workers from exercising their constitutional rights to association and unionisation.
Ajaero also called on the Federal Executive Council to transmit the reviewed Labour Administration Laws to the National Assembly for passage, arguing that aligning Nigeria’s labour framework with global best practices was long overdue.
“The continued delay is a disservice to labour adjudication and undermines our nation,” he said.
In his remarks, Justice Benedict Kanyip, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, advocated for the inclusion of labour law education in schools to enhance public understanding of workplace rights and obligations.
He noted that this was the fourth edition of the lecture series since he assumed office in 2019, stressing that ignorance of labour laws often fuels workplace injustice.
“Labour justice and labour law education are interlinked,” Kanyip said.
“While labour justice ensures fairness and dignity at work, labour law education equips individuals to understand and enforce those rights.”
Also speaking, Professor Ademola Popoola of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, called for the pursuit of labour justice within the broader context of human security, which he described as a constitutional imperative.
He urged the review of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution to make its provisions enforceable and advised aggrieved workers to explore alternative dispute resolution methods to ease the burden on the NICN.
Established under the Trade Disputes Act of 1976 and recognized under Section 254C of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Industrial Court remains Nigeria’s key institution for resolving labour and employment matters.
Experts continue to advocate for wider public education on labour laws to prevent disputes and strengthen industrial harmony nationwide.