The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) will convene senior judges, policymakers, labour leaders and international stakeholders in Abuja on February 12, 2026, for the 4th International Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum (I-LAAF).
The forum, which has grown from a national dialogue into a global platform on labour dispute resolution, will examine how labour justice systems must adapt to rapid changes in the world of work.
Mr. Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, NECA’s Director-General, said the initiative, launched in 2023, has evolved into an influential international forum shaping conversations on labour adjudication and arbitration.
“Over the years, the forum has contributed meaningfully to jurisprudential discourse and strengthened tripartite engagement on labour justice,” Oyerinde said.
The 2026 edition is themed “Access to Labour Justice in a Rapidly Changing World of Work.” Discussions will centre on the impact of technological disruption, non-standard employment arrangements, and emerging forms of work on labour justice frameworks globally.
The forum aims to identify reforms that ensure labour justice systems remain inclusive, responsive and effective for both employers and workers.
Delivering the keynote address will be Justice Lelio Bentes Corrêa, President of Brazil’s Superior Labour Court.
Other confirmed speakers include:
- Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal
- Justice B. B. Bakwaph Kanyip, President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria
- Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
- Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment
- Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress
- Jacqueline Mugo, President, International Organisation of Employers
According to Oyerinde, the forum seeks to deepen constructive engagement among stakeholders and drive reforms that strengthen labour justice institutions amid shifting employment realities.
“Our goal is to promote reforms that ensure the labour justice system meets the evolving needs of employers, workers and society in a fast-changing world of work,” he said.
The I-LAAF has become a key platform for shaping labour policy and judicial thinking in Nigeria and beyond, particularly as digitalisation and new work models continue to redefine employer-employee relationships.
