ELIR holds 2nd stakeholders forum in Lagos
The Employment and Industrial Relations (ELIR) Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) last week held its 2nd Stakeholders’ Forum.
The event which took place at the Avenue Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos had the theme, “Managing the employment relationship in a fast-evolving environment” and was attended by several industry practitioners and stakeholders in labour and industrial relations.
Speaking at the ocassion, the Chairperson of the committee, Anthony Nwaochei said that in other to achieve it objectives, the committee identified the need to involve all stakeholders in its activities. These include, lawyers in practice, lawyers in the academia, in-house counsel, the National Industrial Court, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, the Trade Unions, Ministry Of Labour & Productivity and HR Practitioners & Consultants amongst others.
He said, “Employment and Industrial Relations have become even more critical when viewed against the backdrop of the current economic challenges in Nigeria brought about by falling crude oil prices and the struggling Naira.”
According to him, recent events have compelled organisations to carry out restructuring exercises in recent times in order to remain in business.
“This portend the need for increased legal advice by employers and employees from in-house Counsel and legal practitioners in general in relation to employmentcontracts and collective agreements and to ensure that restructurings are done in conformity with extant laws, Nwaochei stated.
With the recent reconstitution of SBL committees, the ELIR committee is on a renewed drive to fulfil its mandate, whichincludes, deepening the capacity of lawyers (in-house, external, in government employment and in the academia) and other stakeholders in employment and industrial relations laws and practice; as well as positively influencing legislation and policies.
A key component of the Committee’s activities is a Stakeholders Forum which the Committee intends to serve as a platform for the various stakeholders in theemployment industry to exchange ideas on the development of employment law and Industrial relations practices.