Nigerian Labour Law

Nigerian Labour Law is all about right of workers and the contract of employment between the Worker and the Employer. Labour Law is one branch of business law that impacts greatly on the right of workers in this country. No doubt unemployment is one of the greatest problems in Nigeria. There is no conscious effort from the government to create employment for our teeming graduates who are turned out from our various institutions of higher learning in this country.
In the Seventies and early 1980s, Schools Certificate holders always find white-colar jobs and even company jobs immediately after writing the West African Schools Certificate, Graduates from Colleges of Education, Schools of Nursing, other Monotechnics, Polytechnic and Universities usually find job right from the National Youth Service as most Corp members are usually absorbed by their employers in their places of Primary Assignment. Today that is old news or old tales. Nowadays Doctorate degree holders look for jobs day in day out and if they ever find any they are offered jobs that are not equitable with their qualification.
In spite of this crass and arrant unemployment in Nigeria, we found out that establishments still retrench staffs at will due to redundancy or even out of outright unlawful dismissal, hence a book on labour law becomes imperative for workers especially with the creation of the National Industrial Court as a constitutional court by the 1999 Constitution as amended. The New Pension Scheme in Nigeria is one tonic for this new book as it will assist Pensioners to know their rights and their entitlements with Pension Fund Administrators. Nigerian Labour Law therefore takes on topics such as general introduction, features, scope and nature of labour law, sources of labour law, the nature of a contract of employment, the concept of servant by common law and by statute, Restraint of trade, Trade Unions Law, collective bargaining and agreement, the Factories Act, the Employees Compensation Act, termination of employment and remedies available to both the worker and even the employer.
In this Fifteen chapter text, I have tried to posit the current position of the law on the issues discussed by citing recent Nigerian case law and even foreign case law which are highly persuasive. Some statutes have also being referred to, for instance, in the chapters on the Factories Act and Pension law is seriously reproduced largely as case law on it is still scarce.
I am eternally thankful and grateful to my dear wife Mrs. Beauty Nwikpasi-Nyegianu, (Nee Ibor), my children who looking at them makes me work harder, EtoanuBari Samuel Nwikpasi, Bariera Divine Nwikpasi, AbaBari Faithful Nwikpasi, MeeBari Angel Nwikpasi and MdaereBari Beatrice Nwikpasi. I also count on the support of my single parent Ika Mary Nwitubia Nwikpasi, the Mama Sussanah Awardee, the great Ika-God keep you, Lenu Covenant Blessing Nwikpasi, Nuka Nadum Nwikpasi, Eedee Meesua Nwikpasi, Barisi Stella Brown (Nee Nwikpasi) and Epsi Bright Singto Tamana (Nee Nwikpasi) both domiciled in St. Paul Minnesota, USA.
I thank the Gbeneyaategbora Family of Baen, the Ibor Family of Gwara, Sir F.K. Puenee, I will never forget your waters around my roots while it was yet to get a taproot, may the Good Lord keep you, Dr. Felix Deekae Nwiue, Director School of Foundation Studies you remain my boss and friend, Dr. Owen Sordum Akata, Head of Department, General Studies, Sir. Obianko Nwolu Elechi former Rector of this great institution and the Incumbent Acting Rector Dr. O.M.D Georgewill and his lovely family.
I must mention Professor O.V.C. Okene of the Faculty of Law Rivers State University of Science & Technology Nkpolu Port Harcourt who taught me Labour & Industrial Law as a Year 2 student of that great faculty. Sir, your notes in that class forms the nucleus of this book. I am grateful to you.