THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has assured that the Federal Government is committed to workers’ welfare and will continue to work on ways to improve it, adding that besides the measures already put in place, including wage increase, the federal government will continue to prioritise the welfare of the nation’s workforce.
The AGF made this known in Abuja on Tuesday during the opening session of a three-day training event for state counsel on “Proceedings in the National Industrial Court,” organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
He said: “Aside the provision of palliatives, wage awards, and recent increment of the national minimum wage, I want to assure you that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will continue to engage labour unions and prioritise workers welfare.”
Fagbemi commended judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), including its President, Justice Benedict Kanyip for their contributions to enhancing industrial harmony in the country.
“Today the NICN, being a specialised court with expertise in the increasingly complex field of labour law, employment matters and trade unions, plays a critical role in the protection and balancing of employer and employee rights, ensuring socio- industrial stability, and economic development of the country.
“The fact that the labour force serves as the driver of economy (in the production of goods and services) underscores the vital importance of the judicial institution saddled with the constitutional mandate of adjudicating disputes arising from the utilization of labour – one of the main factors of production.
“Let me also emphasize that this court is also vital to the sustenance of government policies as exemplified by cases which have challenged or borders on interpretation of the Public Service Rules, government circulars, tenure policy in the Federal Public Service, issues bordering on sensitive matters of recruitment, remuneration, pension, termination, etc.
“The role of the NICN is therefore critical to our national interest, as it has the responsibility not only to resolve labour disputes but to shape the environment in which workers and employers can coexist productively. This court, by its decisions, promotes the stability required for sustainable economic growth and sets standards that encourage both foreign and local investments,” Fagbemi stated.
Speaking at the event, Justice Kanyip noted that most people, particularly legal practitioners, were not too familiar with the operations of the NICN, which accounted for their criticisms. He said, in dispensing labour justice, the court de-emphasises technicalities and emphasises facts and evidence.
“We are different. Technicalities may work in the High Courts, but certainly not with us. Many frown at Section 12 of the NICN Act because we are permitted to apply the Evidence Act, but we may depart from it in the interest of justice,” Justice Kanyip said.
The NICN President noted that similar provision exists in Zambia, where the court, for the purposes of Industrial and Labour relations Act, is allowed to dispense with the rules of evidence of the requirement of justice demands. He said unlike the case in Nigeria where the provision applies to only civil cases, it applies to both civil and criminal cases in Zambia.
“So, when I hear lawyers complain bitterly that the NICN is trying to extricate itself from the structure of the Judiciary; the NICN is trial to make itself like the Supreme Court where it is a one-off court that is final in its decision and so on, I merely laugh because most people don’t understand what labour justice is about,” he added.
The legal jurist explained that the training event was intended to familiarise state counsel with the processes of the court and its operations.
