COVENANT UNIVERSITY
Course Compact
2013/2014 Academic Session
College:
Department:
Course Code:
Course Title:
Units:
Course Lecturer:
Business and Development
Business Management
IRH 423
Labour Law
Two (2)
Mrs. Ebe Oni-Ojo & Mr. Oyewunmi Olabode
COURSE DESCRIPTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
INTRODUCTION TO LABOUR LAW
CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT
TERMS OF CONTRACT UNDER THE LABOUR ACT
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING & THE ENFORCEABILITY OF
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS
TRADE UNIONS
INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT & CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
LIABILITIES
THE FACTORIES ACT
THE WORKMENS’ COMPENSATION ACT
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, students are expected to
 Appreciate the importance of Labour Law and its role in
achieving an orderly industrial work environment;
 Have a firm understanding of the procedures for industrial conflict
resolution, the collective bargaining process & enforcement of
collective agreements for mutual benefits;
 Appreciate the relevance of trade unions, their purpose,
contribution and the management of relations between members
and management for the achievement of industrial peace and
harmony.
METHOD OF TEACHING

Power Point presentations projected to the class.
 Interactive sessions where class participation is encouraged and
rewarded
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO NIGERIAN LABOR LAW AND
ITS SOURCES
Week 1: Sources of Labour Law, the Contract of Employment
Week 2: Types of employment contracts: Employees/Independent
Contractors/Agents, Tests for determining employment type- Control
Test, Organisational Test, Modern test.
Week 3: Formation of Contract of employment: Offer, Acceptance,
Consideration, Capacity and Lawful Object. Terms of contract: Express
terms and Implied terms.
MODULE II:
Week 4: Rights & Duties of Employer/Employee, Termination of
Employment contract: By Performance, By Agreement, By Frustration,
By Notice.
Vicarious liability: the liability of the employer for the actions of the
employee.
Week 5: The Labour Act- Essential Provisions. Worker defined. Terms of
Employment under Labour Act, Termination of Employment.
Week 6: Collective Bargaining and Collective
Characteristics of Collective Bargaining & Agreement
Agreements.
Week 7: Objectives of Collective Bargaining: Industrial democracy,
jurisprudence, peaceful dispute settlement, Enforceability of Collective
Agreements
MODULE III
Week 8: The Agency & Representative Theories of Enforceability,
Doctrine of Incorporation: Express, Implied and Statutory.
MODULE IV
Week 9: Trade Unions, the Right to form/join trade unions, limitations to
the right to freedom of association, prohibition of association.
Week 10: Registration of trade unions, benefits of registration
MODULE V
Week 11: Industrial Action (Strikes). Definition, the Right to Strike.
Week 12: Industrial conflicts and civil & criminal liability of trade
unions, Immunities. Essential provisions of Workmen’s’ Compensation
Act and Factories Act.
Week 13: Revision
METHODS OF GRADING: Continuous Assessment (tests and
assignments), Class Performance and Class Attendance
RECOMMENDED READING
1. Oladosu Ogunniyi: Nigerian Labour & Employment Law in
Perspective
2. E. E. Uvieghara Labour Law in Nigeria
3. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
4. The Factories Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
5. The Employee’s Compensation Act,
6. The Labour Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.