AI should support decent work, not replace workers — FG

Nigeria advocates for artificial intelligence policies that prioritize human workers and ensure decent work, according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Dingyadi. Speaking at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Dingyadi urged the development of inclusive and human-centered AI frameworks.

He highlighted that while AI offers significant opportunities for innovation, productivity, and economic growth, it also presents substantial risks. These include potential job displacement, increased inequality, and the erosion of the human role in certain economic sectors. Dingyadi emphasized the need for a balanced approach to harness AI's benefits without sacrificing the gains of decent work.

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The world is moving forward at a rapid pace, underpinned by advances in AI, and we as an organisation must match that pace. While welcoming the positive transformations AI offers, we are also pondering the uncertainties it connotes.

"The world is moving forward at a rapid pace, underpinned by advances in AI, and we as an organisation must match that pace," Dingyadi stated. He noted the uncertainties AI brings, such as job creation alongside potential job losses, and the changing value of human input in an increasingly automated landscape.

Nigeria is actively positioning itself within the evolving digital economy. The Federal Government established the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to drive technological development. The country is integrating digital technologies and AI into governance, including the automation of civil service processes and public service delivery, to ensure that the benefits of AI are realized while managing its attendant risks.

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Where AI creates new jobs, there may be job losses. Where digital and AI infrastructures are created, there may be a loss of the traditional role and value of the human factor in the work process. We therefore need a balanced approach that ensures that, while harnessing the benefits of AI, the attendant risks do not rob our societies of the gains of decent work.