Section 11: Officers and their powers.

1 The Minister of Labour and Employment may authorise any officer in the Civil Service of the Federation to act for the purpose of this Act, and every authorised labour officer within the meaning of the Labour Act is deemed to have been authorised.
[Cap. L1, LFN, 2004.]

2 Every authorised officer shall be furnished with a letter of authority and identification when visiting an employer’s premises for the purposes of this Act and shall, if so required. produce both documents to the employer or other person holding a responsible position of management at the said premises.

3 An authorised officer may-
a require the production by an employer of wages sheets payroll, other records of wages and records of conditions of employment, inspect and examine them and copy any part;
b order any person or body of persons found to have contravened any of the provisions of this Act to take remedial action within a specified period of time; and
c make recommendation for the prosecution of any person who contravenes the provisions of this Act.

4 An officer who is authorised in that behalf by general or special directions of the Minister may, if it appears to him that a sum is due from an employer to a worker to whom this Act applies or to a person who has been a worker on account of the payment to him of wages less than the national minimum wage, institute, on behalf and in the name of that worker or person, civil proceedings for the recovery of that sum, and in any proceeding, the court may make an order for the payment of costs by the authorised officer as if he were a party to the proceedings.

5 The power given under subsection (4) for the recovery of a sum due from an employer to a worker or former worker shall not derogate from any right to recover that sum by civil proceedings.