Industrial Democracy and Worker Participation in Decision-Making in Nigerian Cement Manufacturing Companies: A Study of Lafarge Cement, Ewekoro

This study investigates the practice of industrial democracy and its effect on worker participation in decision-making processes at Lafarge Cement Company in Ewekoro, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Industrial democracy, encompassing workers' rights to influence organizational decisions, is a critical dimension of fair employment relations, yet its implementation in Nigeria's manufacturing sector remains inconsistent. A descriptive survey design was employed, with data collected from 155 production workers, supervisory staff, and union representatives. The study is anchored on Pateman's Theory of Participatory Democracy and recent frameworks on employee voice in industrial organizations. Findings indicate that employees who are actively included in departmental planning, safety committees, and process improvement discussions demonstrate higher job satisfaction, stronger organizational identification, and lower absenteeism. The research further reveals that worker participation is predominantly symbolic in certain departments, confined to formal suggestion boxes that are rarely reviewed, while substantive participation in policy-affecting decisions remains management's exclusive domain. Junior workers, particularly those on shift schedules, face structural barriers that limit their participation despite formal policy commitments to inclusivity. Recommendations include the redesign of works councils to include rotating representation from all production grades, mandatory management response protocols for worker suggestions, and annual participation audits. This study provides a valuable empirical contribution to the literature on industrial democracy in Nigeria's cement sector and has policy relevance for the Industrial Training Fund and the National Industrial Court. Keywords: industrial democracy, worker participation, decision-making, cement manufacturing, Ewekoro