Shell Petroleum Development CO. LTD. v. Minister of Petroleum: A New Legal Regime on the Release of Nigerian Employees in the Petroleum Industry Beckons

While the power of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to regulate operators in the petroleum industry was never in doubt, a school of thought was of the opinion that the Minister’s overbearing regulatory powers did not extend to private contracts of employment between operators in the petroleum industry and their employees.

The wider implication of the Decision is that the Minister now appears to have total control over the operations and operators in the petroleum industry which has a significant impact on long-established labour jurisprudence.

This article, which is the first in the series, highlights the notable points and key takeaways from the Decision.