Settlement of Trade Disputes: Nigeria’s Labour Court in Perspectives

Abstract

The fabric of any society rests on the interaction of people and the denomination of value exemplified in the exchange of goods and services. Prominent in this exchange, is the engagement of labour by the employer, in a relationship broadly identified as involving a contract of service. Typically, unresolved conflicts in divergent interests of employer and employee yield disputes. The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, as a specialized labour court with a chequered history, has been vested with far reaching jurisdiction and powers under the Constitution and statute, with responsibility for justice between parties even at the expense of evidentiary rules and technicalities, consonant with national laws and international standards and best practices. By some default, the court in its present form, serves as both court of first and last resort, making it suspect. The challenge is for the court not to transform into one where the interests of labour, both real and imaginary, must be protected at all cost.

Key Words: Trade Disputes, Industrial Court, Jurisdiction, Dispute Resolution