AS NIGERIA marks 32 years since the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola, stakeholders have emphasized the need for measures to strengthen democratic governance in the country.
The Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, made the call on Thursday in Geneva during the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Aremu highlighted key achievements in Nigeria’s labour sector over the past 26 years of democracy, including the enactment of four national minimum wage laws since 1999 and constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, expression, and assembly. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Reform Agenda” has spurred labour market reforms, such as job creation initiatives like the 2.5 million Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), the recruitment of 774 health fellows, and ongoing efforts to improve the minimum wage.
The MINILS Director-General stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in the upcoming 2024 minimum wage review, affirming the institute’s commitment to facilitating dialogue through mass education on collective bargaining and social dialogue.
Aremu also acknowledged the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in 2020 as a significant democratic milestone, ensuring the rights and inclusion of Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD).
However, he called for greater attention to workplace democracy, noting that violations such as restrictions on workers’ rights, cyberbullying, and sexual harassment persist globally, contrary to labour laws and international conventions. He urged stronger measures to protect workers’ rights and promote democratic principles within workplaces to complement national democratic progress.
