The president of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice B. B. Kanyip, emphasised the fundamental human dignity inherent in labour during his keynote address at the first NBA National Human Rights Conference.
“Labour is not a commodity or robot, but a human being who deserves to be treated with respect,” Justice Kanyip declared at the event, which took place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja.
Justice Kanyip stressed that the enforcement of labour standards is a collective responsibility, noting that non-compliance carries significant social costs.
The conference, themed “Human Rights in Business and Workplace: The Role of Lawyers,” gathered members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) alongside other key stakeholders, including representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, Police Affairs Commission, UNICEF, the United Nations, 5th Estate media, and diplomats.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN, Senior Partner at Falana and Falana, served as the lead panellist. He highlighted that while Nigeria’s human rights laws appear advanced on paper, they are frequently disregarded by those in power. Falana underscored the necessity for existing laws to be enforced, noting that magistrates are legally required to visit police stations monthly to ensure detainees are either granted bail or promptly charged. He also advocated for the presence of lawyers at police stations to manage human rights desks.
Addressing workers’ rights, Falana stressed the importance of educating workers about their rights and the privileges granted to them under labour laws, such as the 2% monthly salary deduction for housing, which many workers are unaware of.
Other panellists discussed various pertinent issues. The former Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo SAN, Programme Specialist on the Rule of Law and Human Rights at the United Nations Development Programme in Nigeria, Napoleon Enayebo, and Prof. J. O. A. Akintayo, who participated via Zoom, all contributed valuable insights. Prof. Akintayo emphasised the necessity for every organisation to have a human rights policy.
Earlier, the NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN, welcomed attendees and acknowledged the diverse organisations represented.
Representing UNICEF, Madam Bola Iyka, highlighted the urgent issue of child labour in Nigeria, noting that 39.2% of children are involved in child labour, exposing them to violence, abuse, and other forms of exploitation. She called for the domestication of the Child Rights Act and urged lawyers to champion litigation on behalf of children who lack the means to advocate for themselves.
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