By Anisiobi Faith, The Sight News
Nigeria has called for the adoption of inclusive and human-centred artificial intelligence (AI) policies that safeguard jobs and workers’ rights while leveraging the transformative potential of technology to drive economic growth and promote decent work.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the call while delivering Nigeria’s statement during discussions on the report of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), titled “A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work,” at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Minister commended the leadership of the ILO for its resilience and unwavering commitment to advancing the organisation’s mandate despite prevailing global challenges.
Dr. Dingyadi described the theme of the Director-General’s report as timely and significant, noting that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are fundamentally reshaping labour markets, employment relationships, and workplace practices across the globe.
According to him, while AI offers immense opportunities for economic expansion, innovation, and enhanced productivity, it also raises concerns about job displacement, widening inequalities, and the diminishing role of human labour in certain sectors.
“The world is moving forward at a rapid pace, underpinned by advances in AI, and we as an organisation must match that pace. While welcoming the positive transformations AI offers, we are also pondering the uncertainties it connotes,” the Minister stated.
He noted that the Director-General’s report highlighted developments already being experienced in many countries, including expanding labour markets and economies, evolving work arrangements, new forms of employment relationships, and technological innovations that are driving policy and institutional reforms.
“These shifts, despite their benefits, also cast a dark cloud of uncertainty. Where AI creates new jobs, there may be job losses. Where digital and AI infrastructures are created, there may be a loss of the traditional role and value of the human factor in the work process. We therefore need a balanced approach that ensures that, while harnessing the benefits of AI, the attendant risks do not rob our societies of the gains of decent work,” he added.
Dr. Dingyadi highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to embrace digital transformation through strategic investments in innovation and technology. He noted that the Federal Government established the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to spearhead policies aimed at accelerating the country’s digital development and strengthening economic competitiveness.
The Minister further disclosed that Nigeria has made significant progress in automating public service processes and deploying digital technologies to enhance governance and service delivery, with AI increasingly playing a pivotal role in these reforms.
“I’m pleased to inform you that Nigeria is steadily harnessing the gains of this initiative in our public service. There is service-wide automation of civil service processes and communication, with AI playing a significant role. Additionally, platform work is gaining ground,” he said.
Dr. Dingyadi also welcomed ongoing discussions within the ILO on promoting decent work in the platform economy, stressing the importance of developing appropriate labour standards to protect workers engaged in emerging forms of employment.
On institutional reforms within the ILO, the Minister reiterated Nigeria’s support for the democratisation of the organisation’s governance structures. He called for sustained efforts toward the ratification of the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution and advocated a review of the criteria for determining countries of Chief Industrial Importance to ensure equitable representation across all regions.
According to him, such reforms would strengthen inclusivity, transparency, and fairness within the organisation.
The Minister further urged member states to align the ILO Centenary Declaration and the Global Coalition for Social Justice with national development priorities, ensuring that technological advancement serves as a catalyst for social justice, decent work, and sustainable development.
