FG unveils first national industrial relations policy to boost labour harmony, economic growth
The Federal Government has launched its first-ever National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP), a landmark framework aimed at strengthening labour relations, promoting decent work, and fostering inclusive economic growth. The policy
The Federal Government has launched its first-ever National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP), a landmark framework aimed at strengthening labour relations, promoting decent work, and fostering inclusive economic growth.
The policy was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja at the UN House, drawing key stakeholders from government, labour unions, employers’ organisations, and development partners, including the International Labour Organization.
With the official launch, Nigeria signals a shift towards structured, inclusive, and dialogue-driven labour relations, with expectations that the NIRP will reduce industrial disputes, enhance productivity, and create a more stable environment for investment and job creation.
The ILO Director, Vanessa Phala, described the policy as a transformative milestone for Nigeria’s world of work.
She said the official launch of the National Industrial Relations Policy of Nigeria is a milestone that is both symbolic and profoundly transformative for the future of the world of work in this country.”
Phala commended the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Employment, for demonstrating “clear, sustained and unequivocal political will” in driving the process.
“This is not a policy imported from elsewhere. It is a co-created policy, born out of dialogue, deliberation and, at times, robust debate,” she added.
According to her, the policy provides a forward-looking framework that strengthens institutions, enhances dispute resolution mechanisms, and promotes social dialogue among key actors in the labour ecosystem.
“By strengthening industrial relations institutions the Policy contributes to building a climate of trust conducive to investment, decent job creation and social stability,” Phala noted.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, described the launch as a decisive step toward institutionalising industrial harmony in Nigeria.
“Today we take a decisive step toward institutionalizing industrial harmony, decent work, and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
The minister explained that for decades, Nigeria’s industrial relations system operated without a unified policy framework, leading to frequent disputes and inefficiencies.
“In an economy facing rapid technological change we cannot afford a fragmented approach. This Policy provides the compass,” he stated.
He outlined the three core pillars of the policy—social dialogue, rights at work, and productivity and competitiveness—adding that it was the product of six years of tripartite consultations involving government, labour, and employers.
Dingyadi also announced key implementation strategies, including institutional reforms, nationwide capacity-building programmes, and the establishment of a National Industrial Relations Observatory to monitor workplace grievances and prevent strikes.
The minister said, “Industrial harmony is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of institutions and trust to manage conflict.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, described the policy as a roadmap for addressing longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s labour environment.
The NLC president, who was represented by Head of Industrial Relations and Organising, Eche Asuzu, stressed the importance of upholding workers’ rights and ensuring that the policy translates into improved wages, working conditions, and overall dignity of labour.
He added that the success of the policy would depend on the collective commitment of all stakeholders to its implementation.
Ajaero said, “This Policy provides a roadmap that can help us address the intractable difficulties in industrial relations in Nigeria, including disrespect for collective bargaining agreements.
“Our collective will to make it work is important at this stage. We must make this policy a living document.”
Stakeholders at the event highlighted the significance of the policy in addressing emerging challenges such as technological disruption, the informal economy, and the future of work, while also promoting social justice and economic stability.
