**Interview with Attorney-General Prince Lateef Fagbemi on the Role of the Industrial Court in Economic Growth**

**Alex Enumah, Abuja:** Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, recently spoke to judges during a special session inaugurating the 2024/2025 Legal Year for the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN). In your view, what is the essential role of the NICN in promoting economic stability in Nigeria?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** The National Industrial Court plays a critical role in ensuring industrial harmony, which is essential for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The decisions made by this court have a profound impact on the stability and efficiency of our industries. It’s crucial that these rulings are based on strong legal principles while also taking into account the complexities of the labor market.

**Alex Enumah:** You mentioned the importance of balanced justice. How do you envision achieving a sustainable equilibrium among the interests of employers, employees, and society as a whole?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** Maintaining this balance is vital, especially given the rising instances of workplace discrimination and harassment. While the court must stand firmly against unacceptable labor practices, it should also advocate for positive human resource policies that foster discipline, diversity, welfare, and stability across both public and private sectors.

**Alex Enumah:** What measures do you believe the NICN should implement to improve its efficiency and judicial processes?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** To meet these objectives, the NICN should continuously invest in infrastructure, human resources, and technology. Embracing technological tools is essential to reducing case backlogs, and enhancing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms is key to this effort.

**Alex Enumah:** You also mentioned a developmental review of existing labor laws. What specific changes do you think are necessary?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** We need to update our trade union and labor laws to better align with current realities and the relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. This review will establish a legal framework that accurately reflects today’s workforce dynamics and fosters improved labor relations.

**Alex Enumah:** Regarding the court’s operational capacity, what can you share about the current case backlog and the workload per judge?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** Since our last legal year celebration in 2022, the NICN has encountered 8,608 pending cases, with 1,616 judgments delivered. This means we currently have 6,992 ongoing cases. The data reveals a workload ratio of 186.80 cases per judge for the first quarter of 2024, indicating that some judges, particularly in divisions like Owerri and Makurdi, are facing a significantly heavier burden due to staffing shortages.

**Alex Enumah:** How do you intend to address these disparities in workload going forward?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** We aim to secure increased funding to tackle these challenges and considering assigning additional judges to overburdened divisions like Owerri and Makurdi soon.

**Alex Enumah:** The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, has highlighted the wider societal implications of the NICN’s decisions. What is your perspective on this?

**Prince Lateef Fagbemi:** The court’s rulings indeed have far-reaching effects on both the economy and the community. Our decisions reflect societal values such as fairness, equity, and justice. It’s essential that we administer labor justice promptly and impartially to create an environment where both workers and employers feel secure and empowered.

**Alex Enumah:** Thank you, Attorney-General, for sharing your insights. It’s evident that the NICN’s role extends beyond legal matters to nurturing a more robust and harmonious economic landscape in Nigeria.