Professor Chris Obisi, Professor of Human Resource Management and Development at the University of Lagos, has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s workplace and labour policies, insisting they must reflect local realities rather than foreign models.
In an interview with Anchor News Online, Obisi—widely known as the “Human Resource Development Missionary”—warned that Nigeria’s over-reliance on imported HR practices has stunted organisational growth and undermined national development.
According to him, recruitment and performance management should be strictly merit-based, free from tribal, political, or personal interference. He cited the example of former Cadbury Nigeria chief, Christopher Kolade, who ensured HR had the final say on appointments without management intrusion.
“The most valuable resource of any enterprise is the quality of people you hire. If recruitment is influenced by godfathers, godmothers, or tribalism, the organisation will inevitably face serious challenges,” Obisi stressed.
He further criticised outdated labour laws, describing policies such as no work, no pay as colonial legacies unsuited to Nigeria’s employment realities.
“When agreements are signed and employers renege, workers should not be punished for going on strike. You cannot beat a child and ask the child not to cry,” he said.
On policymaking, Obisi faulted both government and employers for failing to engage stakeholders before introducing new rules. He argued that policies can only be effective and sustainable if all affected parties are involved in their formulation.
Beyond HR practice, the University of Lagos scholar expressed concern over Nigeria’s dependence on foreign economic prescriptions, particularly those from the IMF and World Bank, which he said have worsened the country’s challenges. He urged leaders to adopt “simple living and high thinking” and to prioritise local industries such as NORD Motors and Innoson rather than spending millions on imported vehicles.
In addition to his academic work, Professor Obisi is spearheading a landmark documentation project in partnership with NECA and the Institute of Entrepreneurs. The initiative will produce two compendiums: one on Nigeria’s foremost business leaders and another on the country’s development and political thinkers.
The books, which will feature figures such as Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Obafemi Awolowo, and Nelson Mandela, are expected to serve as intellectual blueprints for business, governance, and HR practice. They will be released in hard copy, e-book, and documentary formats.
“These works will provide homegrown knowledge that HR practitioners and policymakers can translate into workplace culture and employment relations. If we continue to depend on foreign philosophies while neglecting our own thinkers, we will remain off course,” Obisi concluded.
