The Senate on Wednesday approved the establishment of the National Commission for Conciliation and Arbitration, National Labour Council and the Office of the Registrar of Trade Unions.
The approval followed a bill brought by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, aimed at administering the provisions of labour laws in Nigeria.
Ndoma-Egba, who is also the Senate Leader, said the bill, when passed, would address the seemingly poor relationship that existed between most employers and employees in the country.
According to him, trade disputes in the country is currently governed by the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He said: “The greatest challenge of the present dispute settlement is that the entire process from negotiation, conciliation up to arbitration is domiciled in, activated by and operated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
“Under section 9 of the Trade Dispute Act, the minister appoints the chairman, vice chairman and all members of the industrial arbitration panel.
“This scenario is totally at variance with the best practices in dispute settlement as it is difficult to see how such a body can be impartial where government Is a party.”
Ndoma-Egba said the legislation was aimed at creating labour institutions that were independent, impartial, flexible, simple and functional.
He said the law would administer the provisions of all labour laws in the country as it affected freedom of association, industrial relations, working conditions, health and occupational safety.
According to him, it is also aimed at enforcing compliance with the principle of tripartism as enjoined by the International Labour Organisation Convention 144, which Nigeria ratified.
Ndoma-Egba further said: “It is intended to promote the prevention, containment and speedy resolution of labour disputes.
“Mr. President, the Industrial Arbitration Panel established under the Trade Dispute Act during the military era in 1976 was crafted to suit the military agenda and the prevailing labour environment then.
“These provisions have become obsolete and its implementation and enforcement is now at variance with current labour realities.”
Supporting for the bill, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) said it was high time the country was delivered of an unbiased piece of legislation to guide labour activities.
Ningi said: “You would agree with me that the country’s workforce has not been treated fairly as issues of mistreatment, controversial retrenchment, non-payment of pensions, poor salaries have continued to linger.
“Criminalising some of the abuses in the sector would reposition the country’s work environment for maximum productivity.”
On his part, Senator Smart Adeyemi said the legislation would compel employers of labour to conform to the provisions of ILO.
Adeyemi said: “It is this law that will finally end decades of workers oppression and abuse.
“It will give the reality meaning to service and productivity and reposition the country as a nation that values its workforce.
“It would also give room to aggrieved workers to seek justice in a natural panel.”
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, said the bill was important legislation that would bestow workers in the country with unquantifiable leverages to excel and live well.
Earlier, Mark announced at plenary, a receipt of a letter from President Goodluck Jonathan urging the confirmation of Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Similarly, the Senate approved the appointment of Dr. John Madugu to represent Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau States in the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Mark said the approval was given based on the conviction of the senate that the three states would benefit from Madugu’s representation in the commission.
A total of eight new bills were presented for first reading.
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