A scholar from the University of Ibadan and Professor of Industrial Sociology, Professor Emeka Okafor, has stated that Nigeria’s high unemployment rates have led to the proliferation of cheap and surplus labour, which is often exploited by organisations across various sectors.
He stated this during his presentation at the University of Ibadan’s 562nd inaugural lecture, titled: “The Periphery of the Periphery: Exploring the Experiences of Non-Standard Workers.
Okafor highlighted that non-standard workers, such as casual employees, are particularly vulnerable due to their precarious employment status.
“These workers find themselves marginalized and exploited by employers, supervisors, and even regular employees within the organisational framework, especially when we view work organizations as systems with multiple actors,” he explained.
Professor Okafor emphasised that because casual or non-standard workers are unable to unionise, they endure severe and unstable working conditions in Nigeria.
He urged both federal and state governments to enforce labour laws designed to protect these workers from exploitation.
According to him, “The inability of non-standard workers to join trade unions hampers their capacity to negotiate for better working conditions, including fair pay.”
“They are also often denied access to other essential rights. Consequently, the concept of decent work, as advocated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), remains an ideal that is largely unattainable for most workers in non-standard employment situations.”
To address these issues, Professor Okafor called on the Nigerian government, the largest single employer of labour, to ensure that labour standards and regulations protecting workers’ rights are rigorously enforced.
He urged the government to regularise non-standard workers in ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals, providing them with stable employment and career advancement opportunities as a model for other stakeholders.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of creatively generating job opportunities and implementing reforms aimed at revitalising the economy and attracting investment.
He also called for the need to strengthen labour inspection mechanisms to ensure compliance with safety standards and to provide timely compensation for workplace injuries and fatalities.
Professor Okafor advised the Ministry of Labour and Employment to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure occupational safety by enforcing existing labour laws and regulations.
This includes conducting regular workplace inspections to identify and rectify safety violations and combating corruption within the Inspectorate Department, which he said, may allow unscrupulous employers to bypass regulations concerning the treatment of non-standard workers.
Prof. Okafor asserted that labour unions must pressure employers to regularise non-standard workers and improve their working conditions through collective bargaining agreements.