The New Role of the National Industrial Court in Maintaining Industrial Harmony in Nigeria

Abstract

The evolution of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria into a fully functioning and vital adjudicatory platform for settlement of labour disputes and/or maintenance of industrial harmony can neither be fathomed nor truly appreciated unless its unique historical developments are exhaustively considered. Through a deliberate juggle between historical and analytical approaches, this paper revealed the emergence of the Industrial Court from a court of sophomoric status to a constitutionally recognised court of records vested with, perhaps, the most extensive exclusive jurisdiction ever afforded any court in Nigeria. This paper posited that this extensive jurisdiction, which amongst others enjoins it to apply international labour standards where appropriate, has positioned the court to deliver labour justice without excuse. And it would appear, as this paper found, that the Court has embraced this new status with such verve that puts no one in doubt that the Court is ready to uphold its constitutional role of protecting labour rights and maintaining industrial harmony.