NIGERIAN LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONS LABOUR RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

Abstract

This study highlights sector-specific implementation deficits relating to freedom of association, collective bargaining, occupational safety and health, and the elimination of child and forced labour. Beyond identifying structural and institutional constraints, the paper advances a normative position that formal ratification without deliberate legislative and administrative action is insufficient to secure meaningful labour protection. It concludes by proposing targeted legal reforms, strengthened institutional coordination, enhanced social dialogue, and the integration of ILO standards into national development planning as essential pathways for improving compliance. By situating Nigeria’s experience within broader international labour law discourse, the paper contributes to ongoing debates on the effectiveness of international labour standards in domestic legal systems of developing economies.