In this edition of our Judgment Spotlight newsletter, we report on the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Okoronkwo v. INEC (2025) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1991) 131, which clarifies the application of the Public Officers Protection Act (POPA) to employment disputes involving statutory employment. The Court held that employment-related actions against public bodies must be commenced within the prescribed period or risk being statute-barred.
Importantly, this judgment provides clarity in light of earlier National Industrial Court (NIC) decisions that had suggested otherwise. In his notable concurring decision, Justice Ogbuinya, JSC affirmed the broader legal position, stating:
“It is an elementary law that an action rooted in contract of employment is amenable to limitation law…”
This edition highlights the implications of the Court’s decision for employers, HR professionals, and legal advisors, particularly those handling employment claims.
