Section 8: Appointment of conciliator, etc.

(1) The Minister may for the purposes of section 7 of this Act appoint a fit person to act as conciliator for the purpose of effecting a settlement of the dispute.
(2) The person appointed as conciliator under this section shall inquire into the causes and circumstances of the dispute and by negotiation with the parties endeavour to bring about a settlement.
(3) If a settlement of the dispute is reached within seven days of his appointment, the person appointed as conciliator shall report the fact to the Minister and shall forward to him a memorandum of the terms of the settlement signed by the representatives of the parties, and as from the date on which the memorandum is signed (or such earlier or later date as may be specified therein), the terms recorded therein shall be binding on the employers and workers to whom those terms relate.
(4) If any person does any act in breach of the terms of a settlement contained in the memorandum signed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction-
(a) in the case of a worker or a trade union, to a fine of N200; and
(b) in the case of an employer or an organisation representing employers, to a fine of N2,000.
(5) If a settlement of the dispute is not reached within seven days of his appointment, or if, after attempting negotiation with the parties, he is satisfied that he will not be able to bring about a settlement by means thereof, the person appointed as conciliator shall forthwith report the fact to the Minister.