A REVIEW OF EMPLOYER’S LIABILITY TO HIS EMPLOYEE UNDER THE NIGERIAN CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

ABSTRACT

Under Nigerian Law, an employee’s safety at work is generally guaranteed by the imposition of certain duties on the employer. Employers have legal responsibilities to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Certain duties are imposed on the employer, as fixed by the contract itself. This research examines employers’ liability to his employee under Nigerian contract of employment. The study further examines the liabilities of the employer under Nigerian contract of employment and examine the challenges affecting the enforcement of the Nigerian labour laws on employers’ liability. The research shows that early payment of wages, employers duty of care, provision of a reasonably competent work force, obligation to provide written contract of employment, conduct medical examination of employees, provide transport in certain circumstances, grant leave with pay, pension obligations, housing obligation in certain circumstances, and notice for the termination of contract are certain duties imposed on the employer. Based on the findings, the research concludes that a need to reform the whole set up as it affects labour law and recommends that their respective rights and duties have to be analyzed wholly in contractual terms.