TRADE DISPUTES (ESSENTIAL SERVICES) ACT

An Act designates essential services such as hospitals and electricity supply, prohibiting or restricting strike actions to protect public welfare. It targets workers and unions in these services, as well as employers and labour authorities. This maintains essential services for the public while respecting workers' rights.

What Is This Policy?

An Act that designates essential services in Nigeria — such as hospitals, water supply, and electricity — where strike action is prohibited or restricted to protect public welfare.

Who Does It Target?

Workers and unions in designated essential services Employers of essential service workers Federal Ministry of Labour National Industrial Court

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Protect the Nigerian public from the most serious disruptions that could result from industrial action in essential services, while maintaining workers' right to organise.

Key Features

Essential Service Designation: Lists services designated as essential including healthcare, power, water, fire, and telecommunications. Strike Prohibition: Prohibits strike action in designated essential services. Alternative Resolution: Mandates binding arbitration for disputes in essential services. Penalties: Workers who participate in unlawful strikes in essential services face criminal liability.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: Designated essential service sectors Beneficiaries: Nigerian public; essential service users Funding: Federal Government

How to Access

Essential service workers must use arbitration to resolve disputes Unions in essential services must register and comply with the Act Application method: Essential service disputes: report to Ministry of Labour for arbitration referral.

Important Terms

Participating in an illegal strike in an essential service is a criminal offence The designation of essential services is reviewed periodically Essential service workers are not denied the right to organise and bargain collectively

Official Resources

Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Legal Framework

Enacted under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. Operates alongside the Labour Act Cap L1 LFN 2004, the National Industrial Court Act 2006, the Employees Compensation Act 2010, the Trade Disputes Act, and ILO Conventions No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining) as ratified by Nigeria.