An appraisal of contemporary issues in trade disputes resolution in Nigeria

Abstract

Evidentially, trade dispute generally originates from the interaction within an organized labour market. In recent times, the traditional notion of trade dispute as being a dispute between workers and their employers or between workers and workers may hardly be sustained, considering the fact that in certain instances industrial action may be aimed at government and the government may not be the employer of the workers. The paper adopts doctrinal methodology to examine trade dispute resolution in Nigeria by way of analyzing the concept of trade dispute that will always occur once there exist a working relationship. The paper evaluates, the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) in its present constitution which is seriously handicapped to discharge its function effectively. The body lacks the independence required and expected of an adjudicatory body, more so, with the overbearing influence of the Minister on the duties of the IAP. The paper also recommends that in spite of the enormous challenges facing the I.A.P, the simplicity of procedure at the arbitration is a major advantage it has over litigation in the regular courts particularly as they have a time frame within which to discharge any despite before it.