Participants at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, have urged the Federal Government to ratify and fully implement resolutions adopted at both past and current ILO conferences.
Mr. Olusoji Oluwole, National President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), made this call on Tuesday during a session of the ongoing global labour forum.
According to Oluwole, it is imperative that the Nigerian delegation—led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari—not only participates in the deliberations but also ensures the resolutions are meaningfully enacted to improve worker welfare at home.
“Nigeria should not merely participate in these conferences; the country must commit to ratifying and applying the resolutions reached here,” he said.
Oluwole lamented a recurring pattern in which Nigeria signs international conventions without taking necessary domestic actions to enforce them.
“We spend so much time negotiating these conventions. It would be a shame if all that effort doesn’t translate into real change back home. Implementation is the key to ensuring our presence here is worthwhile,” he added.
Addressing the issue of contract staffing, Oluwole noted that casualisation is not confined to the financial sector but is prevalent across Nigeria’s labour market. He recalled that under the tenure of former Labour Minister Senator Chris Ngige, a policy framework was developed to address this issue by promoting a structured transition from contract roles to permanent employment.
“It was agreed that contract staff should have a clear pathway to permanent status. We are now seeing some organisations begin to put this into practice,” he said.
Speaking on the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, Oluwole stressed that AI should be viewed as a support tool rather than a threat to employment. However, he warned that workers who fail to upgrade their skills may find themselves at risk.
“AI should enable us, not replace us. But to make that a reality, workers must proactively upskill—particularly in areas such as AI-powered auditing. Employers also have a role to play by supporting training initiatives, including offering subsidies where necessary,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Charles Okere, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Imo State chapter, echoed the call for the Federal Government to remain committed to implementing ILC resolutions.
The ILC brings together representatives of governments, employers, and workers from the International Labour Organisation’s 187 member states. The current session is expected to tackle key global labour issues, including discussions on new international standards to protect workers from biological hazards and promote decent working conditions worldwide.
