ABSTRACT
Wrongful
termination of contract of employment is a termination in branch of express or
implied mode, for the determination of contract of employment. This wrongful
termination has consequently led to integration and counter integration on the
rights of both the employer and employee. It is due to the reoccurring
disharmony, that this project research work is geared towards examining the
remedies an employee is entitled to when his contract of employment has been
wrongfully terminated. This research work will discuss the relationship between
the employer and employee. Thus, the topic of the project research work is “an
examination of remedies for wrongful termination of contract of employment in
Nigeria”.
The background of the study, the statement of the problem, research
question, objectives of the study, research methodology, and relevance of the
study, scope of the study and limitation of the study were all discussed in its
chapter one, the history of contract of employment and definition of the basic
terms of contract of employment are discussed in the second chapter. Also, an
explanation of who an employer/employee was drawn. Contract of service and the
contract for service were also talked on in the same chapter. In the second
chapter as well, the history and nature of contract of employment was
buttressed likewise, the vitiating elements of contract of employment and its
terms were discussed. Meaning of wrongful termination of contract of
employment, which is the crux of this work, was elaborated in the third
chapter. When an employee has been wrongfully dismissed, the remedies a court
of law can award were discussed in the fourth chapter. A better comprehension
of these remedies put one in a better position when seeking for remedies to
his/her contract that has been wrongfully terminated. Conclusion and
recommendation are contained in the last chapter. It contained discoveries the
researcher has made in the course of the research work. This chapter contains
recommendations the researcher has for the employer and employer towards
reducing the disharmony that arise from their relationship.
REMEDIES FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA
BEING A LONG ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE
FACULTY OF LAW,
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE BACHELOR OF LAWS (L.L.B) DEGREE
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Title
page………………………………………………………… i
Certification………………………………………………………. ii
Dedication………………………………………………………… iii
Acknowledgements………………………………………………. Iv
Table
of cases…………………………………………………….. 6
Table
of statutes…………………………………………………… 9
Table
of Abbreviation……………………………………………… 10
Abstract…………………………………………………………….. 11
Table
of contents ………………………………………………….. 12
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study…………………………………………… 1
1.2 Statement of Problem……………………………………………….. 5
1.3 Research Questions………………………………………………….. 7
1.4 Objectives of the Study…………………………………………….. 7
1.5 Research Methodology……………………………………………… 8
1.6 Relevance of the Study…………………………………………….. 9
1.7 Scope of the Study…………………………………………………….9
1.8 Limitations of the Study…………………………………………….. 9
CHAPTER TWO: CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
2.1 History of Contract of Employment……………………………… 11
2.2 Nature of Contract of Employment………………………… 15
2.3 Definition of Basic Concepts in Contract of Employment.. 22
2.4 Distinction between Employer and Employee………………... 24
2.5 Distinction
between Contract of Service and Contract
for
Service……………………………………………………………27
2.6 Vitiating Elements of Contract of Employment………………. 30
CHAPTER
THREE: WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF CONTRACT OF
EMPLOYMENT
3.1 Meaning of wrongful Termination of Contract of
Employment…………………………………………………………35
3.2 Wrongful Termination and Contract of Employment…….. 42
3.3 Statutory Contract of Employment and its Enforcement.. 44
CHAPTER
FOUR: EXAMINATION OF REMEDIES
FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
4.1 Wrong Termination………………………………………….. 50
4.2 Termination and Unemployment…………………………… 50
4.3 Remedies for Wrongful Termination of
Contract Employment ……………………………………… 51
4.4 Damages……………………………………………………………52
4.5 Declaration
and Injunction. ………………………………. 57
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Observations……………………………………………………………. 64
5.2 Recommendations…………………………………………………….. 64
5.3 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….. 66
Bibliography……………………………………………………………… 68
TABLE OF
CASES
A
A. C.B Ltd v Ewara (1978) S. C. 99…………….………………………61
Akinyemi v Governor f Oyo State (2003) FWLR (pt 140)
1821 at 1824……………………………………………….………………………..21
Akinyemi V. Governor of Oyo State………………….……………….....21
Adeniran V. National power Authority……………………………………48
B
Benue Cement Company Plc v Sky Inpectation Nig Ltd and
Anor (2003) FWLR (pt 142) p109 at 111……………………………….………………18
C
Chioze v United Africa Company ltd (1956) 1 ERLR 28………………..38
Chivers v Davis of America (1956) NCLR 89……………………………31
Collins v Herts county council, (1947) K b 598 at
615………………….28
Co-Opreative And Commerce Bank v Okonkwo (2002) All
FWLR
(pt 67) p 637
at 640…………………………………………………………41
Currie v Missa ………………..……………………………………………..20
D
David Osuagwu v. A.G Anambra State (1993) 4 NWLR 13,
45 ……..58
De Francesco v Barnum (1890) 45 Ch D 430 at 435
…………………51
F
Fakuade v. OAUTH (1993) 5 NWLR (Pt 291) 47 ……………………. 22
Flash Fixed Odds Ltd v. Chief J O Akatugba (2001) FWLR
(PT 78) 709 C.A ……………………………………………………………………28
H
Haider v Barini (Nig) Bank Ltd (1963) SCNL 242
……………………..54
Haruna v Uniagric Makurdi (2005) 3 NWLR (pt 912) 233
C.A…………45
Hill V. C. A. Parson & Co. Ltd………………………………………………63
I
Ibrahim Geidam v NEPA (2001) 2 NWLR (Pt 690) P. 45 at
49 ……….60
J
Jimoh Ikhile v Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria
(2003)
FWLR (pt 181) 1726 …………………………..19
L
Lavabre v Excelsior Hotel Ltd (1967) LLR 141
………………………....30
M
McClelland v Northen Ireland General Health Service
(1957)2
All ER 129…………………………………………………………62
N
National Electric Power Authority v Olagunju (2005) 3
NWLR (pt 913) P 603 at 612 ………………………………………………………………57
NEPA v Olagunju (2005) 3 NWLR (pt 913) p 603 at 612
……………..58
Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation v Obende (2003)
FWLR
(Pt 116) 921 CIA ………………………………………………………….59
O
Omega Bank Nig Plc V. O. B .C Ltd……………………………………….18
Okarafor v Minister of Internal Affairs (2004) All FWLR
pt 209
p. 1108 at 1110
……………………………………………………59
Onumjalubi v NNPC (1999) 12 NWLR (pt 632) P. 628
……………….22
Osiyemi v Society General Bank Ltd (2001) 11 NWLR (pt
725)……..28
Osumah v Edo Broadcasting Service (2005) ALL FWLR
(pt253) p 773 at 775 ………………………………………………………66
R
Registered Trustee PPFN v Shogbola (2004) 11 NWLR (pt
883) P 1 at 6 ……………………………………………………………………….……...46
S
Sam Fam Financiers Ltd v. Mr. Charles S.B Aina (2003) FWLR (pt 159) 1482
C.A ………………………………………………………………….…20
Sogbetum v Sterling Product Ltd (1973) NCLR 323 ……..……………41
Strabag Construction Nigeria Ltd v. Adeyefa (2001)
FWLE (pt 60) P. 1538 at 1542 …………………..……………………………..……………..43
Sutcliffe v Hawker Siddele Aviation Ltd (1973) ICR 560
……………….39
T
Total Nigeria Plc v. Ajayi (2004) FWLR (pt 218) 887 at
890 …………21
Uzoho v Task Force on Hospital Management, (2003) FWLR
(Pt 166) 606 C.A ……………………………………………………………….……26
W
Wilshire County Council v Naffhe (1980) ICR 455
…………………. 70
Way v Latilla (1937) 3 ALLER 759, 763 ……………………………..74
TABLE OF STATUTES
Labour Act Cap 198 Laws of
the Federation, 1990 S. 6, 7,9,10,11(2)
91(6)…………………………………………………………………..
4,14,22,32
Workman’s Compensation Act,
Cap 470 S 57 ……………………………..29
Universities of Agriculture
Decree No. 48 of 1992 S. 15,16…………………45
Lagos State Law 1961 Cap 67 S. 8……………………………………………30
Employment Protection
Consolidation Act 1978 S. 31……………………….49
Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999 S. 36………………….66
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
AC - APPEAL CASES
All
ER - ALL ENGLAND REPORTS
CB - COMMON BENCH REPORTS
Ch.
D - CHANCERY DIVISION
F
W L R - FEDERAL WEEKLY LAW REPORTS
N
W L R - NIGERIAN WEEKLY LAW REPORTS
N
I R - NIGERIA LAW REPORTS
N
C L R - NIGERIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW REPORTS
N
L L R - NIGERIAN LABOUR LAW REPORTS
Q
B - QUEEN’S BENCH
K B
- KINGS BENCH
W
N L R - WESTERN NIGERIA LAW REPORTS
W
L R - WEEKLY LAW REPORTS
S
C N J - SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA JUDGMENT
REMEDIES FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA
BEING A LONG ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE
FACULTY OF LAW