On April 9, 2025, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Judicial Division, delivered a landmark judgment in Mr. Omene Andy Robinson v. Mr. Nasarvali Dudekeh & Shongai Technologies Limited (Suit No. NICN/AB/03/2020). Presided over by Hon. Justice J.D. Peters, this decision is the first in Nigeria to apply the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190 of 2019, which addresses violence and harassment in the workplace.

The case arose from incidents of harassment and inhumane treatment faced by the claimant, a machine operator, at his workplace on September 8, 2019. The court found that such acts, including physical mistreatment by a managerial figure, violated the claimant’s right to dignity and constituted unfair labour practices. Referencing ILO Convention No. 190, ratified by Nigeria in November 2022, the judgment declared these actions unlawful and emphasized employers’ obligations to ensure safe, harassment-free work environments. The court granted reliefs including unpaid remuneration, compensation for injuries, and costs, reinforcing protections for workers.

This ruling marks a significant step in aligning Nigerian labour law with global standards, promoting workplaces free from violence and harassment.

The full judgment is available on the National Industrial Court’s portal