The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has stated that corruption and poor governance, not Artificial Intelligence (AI), remain the biggest threats to the future of work and job security in Nigeria.
The General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, made this known during the 2025 Workshop of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN), held in Ibadan, Oyo State. He was represented by a former president of the union, Ivor Takor, who also chaired the event.
According to Adeyemi, while AI is reshaping the global workplace, it should not be viewed as a job destroyer but rather as a tool for improving productivity and empowering workers who are ready to adapt.
“I don’t agree with the notion that AI will replace workers or eliminate jobs. Instead, it is designed to increase efficiency, save time, and support workers who embrace new technologies,” he said. “AI cannot think for us or take responsibility for our actions. Its limitations, such as errors and hallucinations, make human oversight essential.”
Adeyemi stressed that technological innovation alone cannot guarantee a sustainable workforce without good governance and economic justice. He criticized successive governments for institutionalizing corruption, describing it as Nigeria’s “real economic policy.”
“Corruption has deeply penetrated our governance system to the point of becoming institutionalized. Every administration has been affected by it,” he added.
He also expressed concern over the widening income inequality, rising inflation, and the declining living conditions of Nigerian workers, blaming corporate organizations for prioritizing profit over employee welfare.
Adeyemi urged labour journalists to remain bold and independent in their reporting, despite political and commercial pressures that often suppress truthful and objective journalism.