LEGAL PRINCIPLE: LABOUR LAW — Termination of Employment — Employer Entitled to Terminate for Any Reason or No Reason
PRINCIPLE STATEMENT
Under common law, an employer is entitled to bring the appointment of his employee to an end for any reason or no reason at all. So long as he acts within the terms of employment, his motive is irrelevant.
RATIO DECIDENDI (SOURCE)
Per Uwaifo, JSC, in Idoniboye-Obu v. NNPC (2003) NLC-1621996(SC) at p. 13; Paras D–E.
"Under the common law, an employer is entitled to bring the appointment of his employee to an end for any reason or no reason at all. So long as he acts within the terms of the employment, his motive for doing so is irrelevant."
EXPLANATION / SCOPE
Under common law, employers may terminate at will. The principle applies to ordinary contracts of employment. Motive is irrelevant. The rule is based on master-servant doctrine. The employee’s remedy is damages for breach of contract. The principle is well-established.
