By Joan Nwagwu
The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the employers, employees and the Federal Government to consistently engage in social dialogue to improve Industrial harmony in the country.
Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, President of NECA said this at the 2nd National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum on Tuesday in Abuja.
The theme of the forum is, ”Strengthening Tripartitism and Social Dialogue (including alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms) for a Sustainable Industrial Relations System in Nigeria”.
Adeniyi noted that the country had witnessed several Labour upheavals in recent times.
According to him, we firmly believe that maintaining a healthy employer-employee relationship is vital for fostering a thriving economy and creating a stable and prosperous nation.
“We must, therefore, remind ourselves to embrace Social Dialogues and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.
“This include mediation, adjudication, or arbitration that have been established by both Local and International Labour institutions.
“These mechanisms are based on the principles of impartiality, transparency, and adherence to legal frameworks which are upheld by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and our Labour Laws.
“We recommend that employers and employees along with government consistently engage in social dialogue to improve Industrial harmony in the country,” he said.
Adeniyi added that, it was their believed that the forum would provide a conducive environment for meaningful discussions by experts from the academia, public and private sectors.
He also said the forum would share the perspectives on the importance of dispute resolution mechanisms that uphold the rights and welfare of workers while supporting sustainable development and growth for businesses.
“As the president of NECA, I assure you of Employers’ unwavering commitment to promoting a peaceful and harmonious industrial relations environment,”he added.
He also added that the National Labour Adjudication forum is an interactive forum for social partners and stakeholders in the Labour and Industrial Relations eco-system.
“This is to promote fair and just resolution of labour disputes, foster harmonious employer-employee relations, and uphold our shared commitment to a productive and progressive labour eco-system,”he said.
Also, Prof. Dale Otobo, President of the Nigerian Industrial and Employment Relations Association (NIERA) said tripartitism (government, workers and employers)was imperative in ensuring social cohesion.
Otobo said that some of the laws, procedure and substantive rules that weaken tripartism and social dialogue include the weak presence, disrespect of civil liberties, human rights, among others.
He noted that it was important to strengthen tripartitism and social dialogue in the country.
According to him, there is need for a real decentralisation of national political and administrative structure constitutionally to tripartitism and social dialogue.
“There is also need for active tripartite Labour Advisory Council or committee at the federal arm, among others to ensure effective implementation of tripartitism and social dialogue in Nigeria,”he said.
Meanwhile, a book on“Labour Adjudication in Nigeria: The Present and The Future” written by
Justice Benedict Kanyip, President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria was unveiled at the end of the forum.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)