Geneva: Some participants at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) have called on the Nigerian government to ratify resolutions reached at the various conferences. Mr. Olusoji Oluwole, National President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), emphasized the importance of implementing these resolutions to improve the lives of workers.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oluwole stressed the need for the Federal Government’s delegates, led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari, to ensure the implementation of the resolutions. He highlighted the issue of Nigeria being a signatory to conventions without actual implementation in the country. Oluwole argued that the time spent discussing and negotiating these agreements should translate into concrete actions upon returning to Nigeria.

Oluwole also addressed the issue of contract staff, noting that casualisation is prevalent not only in financial industries but across various sectors in Nigeria. He mentioned that the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, had developed a document to address casualisation by working with employers and service providers. This document included provisions for contract workers to transition into core staff positions, a practice that some organizations have already started implementing.

Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, Oluwole described AI as more of an enabler than a replacer, emphasizing the importance of upskilling to avoid job displacement. He urged individuals to improve their understanding of AI and encouraged organizations to support staff training through subsidies and educational opportunities.

Additionally, Mr. Charles Okere, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Imo State, advised the government to uphold its commitments to the resolutions adopted at the conference. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ILC, which began on June 2 and concludes on June 13, includes representatives from government, employers, and workers from the ILO’s 187 member states. The conference addresses vital work-related issues, including new international standards for protecting workers against biological hazards and promoting decent work.