Employee Layoffs Per Nigerian Labor Act

Employee Layoffs Per Nigerian Labor Act¹

1. Introduction: Following the COVID 19 pandemic, some employers have struggled to reposition their businesses for profitability. Nigeria is not exempt from this, and several solutions have been proposed by employers to combat these difficult situations. But it is important that whatever is done is done within the ambit of the law and one must not be clever by a half thereby circumventing applicable Labor Laws. In Nigeria, "Employee Layoffs" is an emerging trend where an employer in financial crisis does not outrightly terminate the employee's contract of employment but "lays them off" for a definite or indefinite period, the length of time for such being dependent solely on the discretion of the employer. This Article seeks to provide a glimpse of the applicable Labor Laws in Nigeria for the advisement of employers and employees.