AN EXAMINATION OF LAWS AND PROCEDURES REGULATING TRADE DISPUTE IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION TO STUDY
Industrial harmony is very important both at the public and private sectors because of the negative impact of disputes in the labour sector. Trade dispute, when it occurs could be a very serious issue especially when it is allowed to degenerate into an industrial action. Few trade disputes get reported but the ones that are recorded help the government to get a proper analysis for the evaluation and policy purposes. Though quite a large number of disputes occur without resort to strike, however they are equally as disruptive as cessation of work.
Since government is the largest employer of labour, it has from time to time enacted different laws curb to the incidence of trade disputes between employers and their workers in Nigeria.
Trade dispute has been defined by the Act as any disagreement between employers and workers, workers and workers which is connected to the employment, non employment or terms of employment or physical
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condition of work of any person1. It must be noted that before any dispute can be termed a trade dispute, there must be in existence proper parties and the subject matter must be related to the employment, non employment or terms of employment or physical condition of work of any person2.
This shows that the parties and subject of a trade dispute must be clearly defined in order to fully understand what kind of dispute constitutes a trade dispute. The first attempt made by the government to regulate trade dispute was the Trade Disputes (Arbitration and Inquiry) (Lagos) Ordinance, 19413 and Trade Dispute (Arbitration and Inquiry) (Federal Application) Ordinance, 19574. However, these attempts turned out to be unsuccessful because of some defects in them which eventually shorten their life span and new legislation were enacted, these are the Trade Dispute (Emergency Provisions) Decree of 19685 and the Trade Dispute (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) (Decree No 2) of 19696.
These two Decrees were enacted to correct the defects in the first two ordinances they were effective in some aspect but they were designated to
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last for a short time7. The Decree had some inherent defects which were to be regulated by the Trade Dispute Act, 1976 which till today remains the major machinery for the settlement of trade disputes and its amendment the Trade Dispute (Amendment) Decree No. 47 of 19928.
The Trade Dispute Act, 1976 has provided different procedures for setting trade disputes when they occur, the Act provides for ways in which the parties may attempt the settlement themselves and ways in which a 3rd party may be appointed to help in the settlement processes. It also provides for ways in which the parties may take the dispute to the court for proper adjudication.
Examination of the laws and procedures for the regulation of trade disputes is the focus of this study and recommendations made where necessary for a better way of resolving trade disputes.
1.1.0: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
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In any ideal industrial relations, great emphasis is placed on the attainment of industrial harmony in order to create a conducive environment for the realization of individual and organization goals and objectives. However, it would appear that conflict is a common phenomenon in any human setting and when it exists, it creates human and industrial problems, which adversely affect the attainment of industrial peace.
Since conflict in any work situation is almost inevitable because as labour and management relates, there are bound to be frictions which results from differences in interest and aspirations as both the employer and employee most times have divergent interest on issues touching on wages, conditions of work, terms of employment e.t.c and resolving these dispute requires compromise, concession and a game of give and take between disputing parties.
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1.2.0: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This work is intended to make an analysis of the Trade dispute resolution Mechanism of the Trade Dispute Act 1990 as well as a comparative study of Trade Dispute Decree 1992 alongside the constitution. Subsequently, an examination into the defects that has rendered the law ineffective will be made and thereafter to profer solution with a view to improving the machinery for Trade dispute resolution.
The study looks into the issue of whether National Industrial Court is a superior Court of Record or not.
It looks at the new position of law concerning the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court on Trade dispute matters.
The main aim of the study is to undertake an assessment of the law as it related to the settlement of trade disputes in Nigeria and proffer solutions where necessary for a more effective means of settling trade dispute.
1.3.0: DEFINATION OF TERMS
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“Trade Dispute” is any disagreement between employers and workers, worker and workers which is connected to the employment, non employment or terms of employment or physical condition of work of any
person9.
“Strike” has been defined by the Act as the cessation of work by a body of employed persons acting in combination, or by concerted refusal under a common understanding of any number of employed persons to continue to work for an employer in consequence of a dispute, done as means of competing with their employers or any person or body of persons employed, to aid other workers in compelling their employer or any person or body of employed persons to accept or not to accept terms of employment and physical condition of work10.
In Tramp shipping corporation V. Greewich Marine Inc.11 “The Court of Appeal in United Kingdom adopted the following definition of strike:
‘ a concerted stoppage of work by men done…. With a view to improve their wages or condition of employment, or giving vent to a grievance or making a protest about something or others supporting or sympathizing with other workmen in such endeavour’
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This definition accords with the definition under the Trade Dispute Act, 197612.
Refusal to continue to work includes a refusal to work at usual speed and efficiency.
“Lockout” is an action in which employees physically “takeover” the company premises either by locking out the management staff, thus denying them access to a exit from the premises13.
It is also defined by the Act as ‘the closing of a place of work or, the suspension of
work, or the refusal by an employer to continue to employ any number of persons employed by him, in consequence of a dispute with a view to compelling the workers to
accept terms of employment’14.
“Collective Bargaining” has been defined as the process of arriving or attempting to arrive at a collective agreement15.
Collective Agreement ‘is any agreement in writing, relating to the terms of
employment and physical condition of work, between an employer, group of employers
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or one or more organization representing the employers on one part and one or more
organization representing the workers, on the other hand’.16
In this work, unless the context requires otherwise, the following expression have the meaning assigned to them here under:-
“Party” means any of the parties to trade dispute or any of the parties to a trade matter lying before a court of N.I.C.
“N.I.C” means the National Industrial Court
“I.A.P.” Means Industrial Arbitration panel
“The Tribunal” Means the Industrial Arbitration Tribunal
“Court” Means the conventional court listed in section 6 (5) 1999
constitution.
“The Decree” Means the Trade Dispute (Amendment) Decree No 47 of 1992
“Laws” means the laws regulating trade dispute in Nigeria as covered in this book.
“The Act” Means the Trade Dispute Act, Cap 432, LFN 1990
“Dispute” Means trade Dispute
16 ibid S. 37 (1)
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“Minister” Means the Minister for employment labour and productivity of the Federation.
“Condition of Work” Means the physical condition under which a workman, works such as appertain to matters of Safety and physical comfort at the place of work.
“Terms of Employment” Means all matters covered by the contract of
employment
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1.4.0: SCOPE OF STUDY
Conceptually, this work also covers, although in passing and on restricted discussion the other alternative resorts to the settlement of trade dispute i.e. strikes and lock-outs as effects of trade disputes.
This essay will cover the provisions of the Trade Dispute Act, 1990, particularly its trade dispute resolution machinery. The Trade Dispute Decree, 1992 and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 are also covered in this work, principally these are the laws regulating trade dispute resolution in Nigeria. The Labour Act, 199017 and the Trade Union Act, 199018 are also covered only to the extent of their reference to trade dispute.
1.5.0: LITERATURE REVIEW
There are few Nigeria text books on labour law. Besides that most of the available texts were published before the current trade dispute issues evolved, hence, this particular area of study did not lay reliance on the knowledge contained in those books.
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However, the few scholars whose books touched on this topic will have
their books referred to and examined in this book. These scholars include:
