Due Process and the Right to Work in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of Unlawful Dismissal Under International Labour Law Standards
ODMichael, CG Offor, Okechukwu Divine Michael, Chibuikem Golden Offor
Abstract
Unlawful dismissal remains a serious challenge within the employment landscape of Nigeria. It is a phenomenon often occurring in violation of due process and without effective legal consequences to the perpetrators. This paper examines the issue from an international labour law perspective, recognising the right to work as a fundamental socio-economic right protected under international legal frameworks. A major problem addressed in this paper is Nigeriaâs weak statutory alignment with international labour law standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 158 and the governmentâs failure to provide adequate statutory protections and remedies for wrongfully dismissed employees. The primary aim of the study is to examine whether Nigerian labour law and practices offer sufficient protection against unlawful dismissal in light of international obligations and standards. The objectives include evaluating the normative framework under international labour law, assessing the effectiveness of institutional enforcement in Nigeria, and identifying areas of divergence between Nigerian labour law and global standards. The Doctrinal legal research methodology was adopted, relying on both primary and secondary sources including the constitution, national legislations, case laws, international instruments, and relevant literature. A major finding of the study is the outdated nature of the Nigerian labour Act as a contributory factor both in its terminological inconsistencies, limited scope and lack of salient provisions on emerging issues, to the crises of unlawful dismissal in Nigeria. The Labour Act and Nigeriaâs current legal framework on dismissal, falls short of international best practices. It is thus recommended that legislative reforms starting with the amendment of the labour Act be made to restrict arbitrary dismissals, enforce due process, the right to work and adequate remedies to employees for a better labour environment in Nigeri
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