The Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) is being repositioned to play a critical role in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The IAP Chairman, Barr (Mrs.) Pamela Azinge, revealed this when she and her management hosted the United States Labour Attache to Nigeria, Ms. Kimberly Ledesma, on a visit on Thursday in Abuja.
She said the IAP was playing a critical role in sustaining development in Nigeria, adding that “Without industrial peace and harmony, there will be no favourable atmosphere for improved workers’ productivity and national development.
“Indeed, no investor will be willing to invest in an economy characterized by conflicts and crises such as strikes, work stoppages and lockouts.
“Thus, the industrial relations atmosphere of a country is important in attracting direct investment to its economy.”
She said it was in view of this that the IAP was being repositioned to perform its role more effectively, adding that based on a recommendation of the Nigeria Declaration Project, the IAP was in the process of being converted into commission to be known as the National Commission for Industrial Arbitration.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval in 2023 for the conversion while the bill to that effect is being fine-tuned for onward presentation to the National Assembly.
She praised the IAP for discharging its duties creditably over the years discharged its duties creditably, but however called for a strong alternative
dispute resolution mechanism in view of the “complex and dynamic environment under which most organizations now operate in the global economy.
“Indeed, most advanced economies in Europe, Asia and America are now abandoning the use of regular courts to settle labour disputes and rather embrace alternative disputes methods such as mediation, conciliation, arbitration and social dialogue.”
She said this brought the Nigeria Labour Laws in tandem with international standards with particular emphasis on promoting fundamental principles and rights at work.
Speaking, the United States Labour Attache to Nigeria, Ms. Kimberly Ledesma has pledged that she would forward the request of the IAP to Washington DC with a view to determining what kind of assistance and support her home country would render.
Ledesman said from the interactions she had with the management, she now appreciates the information on the IAP at her disposal, adding that ‘when we start brainstorming on the assistance and support, things will start to take shape.
“It is from there we will know how best to support and types of assistance to render,” she said.
Speaking also, the Chief Registrar of the IAP, Barrister Ibrahim Abdul-Hamid, noted that it is generally accepted that no organisation can make progress and sustain higher productivity in an atmosphere of chaos and crisis characterized by strikes, work stoppages and lockouts.
He praised the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the social partners including, NECA, NLC and TUC for employing the instrumentality of social dialogue and ADR including arbitration in resolving most of the labour disputes in Nigeria.
