AGF demands overhaul of labour laws amid economic crisis

With Nigeria’s economy teetering on the brink, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, has called for a drastic overhaul of the country’s labour laws.

He said a more proactive role should be assigned to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in tackling the growing crisis of unemployment, inflation, and industrial unrest.

Fagbemi made the call at the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

He warned that the nation’s ongoing trajectory of strikes and industrial unrest could spell disaster for economic recovery if the NICN and the Ministry of Labour don’t take urgent steps to promote industrial harmony.

“With unemployment at record levels and businesses struggling to survive, the National Industrial Court holds the key to restoring balance and stability to our labour market,” Fagbemi declared, urging the court to expand its influence by engaging stakeholders to avert disputes before they escalate.

The AGF called for a review of outdated trade union and labour laws, aligning them with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.

Fagbemi highlighted the court’s critical role in addressing the rising wave of workplace discrimination and harassment, calling for swift justice to protect vulnerable workers.

He said either adapt, innovate, and rise to the challenge, or risk the collapse of Nigeria’s economic and industrial fabric.

Fagbemi’s call for modernization has set the stage for what could be a game-changing year for labour justice in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, revealed that as of the last legal year, the NICN faced a significant backlog, with 8,608 pending cases.

According to him, although the court delivered 1,616 judgments, reducing the backlog to 6,992 cases, Justice Kanyip noted that the volume of new cases continues to pose challenges.

He said data from the National Judicial Council (NJC) revealed that the average workload per judge is 186.80 cases, placing substantial pressure on judicial resources.

According to him, some divisions, particularly in Owerri and Makurdi, are overseeing over 500 cases each with only one resident judge, illustrating an uneven distribution of responsibilities that necessitates additional judges in high-demand areas.

The NJC statistics also indicated a case disposal rate of just 8% for the first quarter of 2024, raising concerns about the court’s ability to keep pace with its growing backlog.

Justice Kanyip urged litigants and counsel to leverage specific court rules, such as Order 38 Rule 33, which allows for expedited trials, to enhance efficiency.

He also emphasised the importance of the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, which has seen limited use. In 2023, only 41 cases were referred to the centre, resulting in just 9 settlements, while 34 cases were referred in 2024, with 6 resolved thus far.

To address these challenges, he said the NICN has made significant upgrades to its digital platforms, including the judgement and cause-list portals.

He said there are new tools such as the Certified True Copies (CTC) and final written addresses portals that aim to streamline processes, reduce administrative delays, and improve overall case management.

Also, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, representing the Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Abuja, noted that the National Industrial Court’s rulings have played a crucial role in stabilising Nigeria’s industrial relations and enhancing the welfare of judicial officers.