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Trade Unionism And It’s Impact On Workers Welfare In Nigeria
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NIGERIA TRADE UNIONS
The central trade union
in the country is the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which was formed
in 1975 as the umbrella trade union and recognized by Decree Number 44
of 1976 as the sole representative of all trade unions in the country.
The NLC has a national executive and secretariat, as well as state
councils in all states. It had more then 100 affiliated unions. Although
most labour matters were channeled through the NLC, the affiliate
unions had engaged individually in union activities, such as strikes and
lockouts. In the 1980s, the NLC was torn apart by leadership struggles,
ideological differences, and ethno-regional conflict. The NLC nearly
broke up in 1988 after disagreements over election: of its leadership,
resulting in the federal government's appointing an administrator for
several months. The NLC organized a nationwide workers' strike in 1986
to demand the retention of government subsidies on petroleum products
and continued to articulate workers' demands on matters such as minimum
wages and improved welfare conditions. Several other trade unions were
also active. A few, such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities,
were proscribed for alleged antigovernment activities.
In Nigeria,
trade unions have become important agent of socio-economic
transformation and class struggle (Aremu, 1996; Akinyanju 1997). The
role began from the period of the colonial struggle and continued tall
the post independence era. In the later period, trade unions played an
important role in the struggle against dictatorial military rule and the
restoration of civil rule in the country more importantly during the
civilian era, trade unions were in the forefront in the struggle against
unpopular government policies such as:
• Retrenchment of workers and
• Refusal to honour agreement on wage increase
The
present discussion seeks to provide a critical assessment of the impact
of Trade Union on workers welfare in particular and on their overall
emancipation in general.
TRADE UNIONISM UNDER MILITARY RULE
Nigeria's
history is bereft with contrasting political climate. Since
independence in 1960, the country has been under military dictatorship
for twenty-nine year while democratic .rule span for the remaining
seventeen years. The long years of military rule has had its impact on
the nation's trade unionism and workers struggle in the country.
Therefore, military regime though an aberration, has nevertheless
featured prominently in Nigeria's political history. In view of the
dictatorial tendency of such military administration, trade unions have a
Herculean task in responding to policies and unpopular programmes of
such regimes. The: first challenge posed to trade unions is with regards
to how they can mobilize the members to agitate against unpopular and
repressive programmes of military administration. Examples abound of
instances of how trade unions successfully mobilized workers for action
meant to achieve their emancipation and improvement in the general
condition of members.
Trade union movement in Nigeria attained
its highest crescendo of activities during military dictatorship. While
trade union activities were heightened under previous military regimes
of General Gowon (1967-1975) General Muritala/Obasanjo (1976-1979)
General Buhari/Idiagbon 1984¬/1986), General Babangida (1986-1993), it
was during General Abacha's regime (1993-1998) that witnessed active
involvement of trade unions in the struggle both for the improvement in
the living standard of members and restoration of democratic rule. For
example, in 1992, then was widespread discontent in the country in which
citizens were hay sassed, repressed and hungry (Akinyanju, 1997). Wages
were generally low. However, the leadership of the central labour
organization (NLC were collaborators of the military junta, hence could
not monster any res stance against the military government. It was
against this background that the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria
Universities (ASUU) embarked on a nationwide strike in 1992 to advance
the improvement of the working condition of its members. The high level
of poverty among members fostered unity of purpose among members. The
strike was largely successful in terms of total participation of members
and the Military government was forced to negotiate with the union.
The
experience of the struggle towards revalidation of true annulled June
12 1993 presidential election is another instance of workers struggle
during military era. The struggle was spear-headed by workers union in
the oil sector, namely, National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers
(NUPENG) and Petroleum and Gas Workers Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN). While the strike was effective with regards to full
participation of a large number of members, it nevertheless failed to
achieve its goal of de-annulling the election. However, the strike
further strengthened the unions and made members conscious that the
could achieve a lot by remaining steadfast with their unions.
Again,
during Gen. Babangida's regime (1986-1993) trade unions were able to
mobilize their members to protest against the negative effects of the
Structural Adjustment Programme of the government. The protest led to
the introduction of some relief measures meant to caution the effect of
economic policy on the citizens. Obasi (1986) has observed that SAP has
led to economic privation of workers thereby heightening their
consciousness which in turn leads to increasing militancy on their part.
Such actions on the part of workers through their unions have forced
government to adopt some relief measures especially in the areas of
wages and salaries increment.
Trade unions also performed the role of
sensitizing its members and the general public against government
repressive programmes such as increment in petroleum price. Past
experiences have shown that on each occasion that government desires to
effect change in fuel price, trade unions have played significant role
in mobilizing its members arid the general public on the need to resist
such action.
From the preceding discussion, one could observe that
the activity of trade union movement in Nigeria was heightened during
military rule. The dictatorial climate provided by military regimes has
the effect of pushing trade unions towards increasing militancy. Such
undemocratic government could not tolerate active unionism and hence had
to resort to intimidation, repression through arrest of union leaders
and outright ban of radical unions. These actions in return further
fuelled radicalism on the part of the unions.
TRADE UNIONISM UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE
Democratic
government in contrast to military provides quite a different political
environment for trade unionism. Under colonial rule, government did not
grant recognition to trade union until 1931 with the enactment of Trade
union Ordinance. The colonial state relented the radical posture of
trade unions. Moreso, since the unions collaborated with nationalists
for independence struggle and therefore made concerted efforts to weaken
the unions by harassing the leadership and divide the rank and along
ethnic line (Ochefu, 1996). These repressions were heightened after the
general strike of 1945 which marked a water-shed in the anti-colonial
struggle in Nigeria. The successful collaboration between nationalises
and labour leaders during the strike led to the forging of link between
the two groups and the radically transform the nature and of nationalist
struggle for independence.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study is motivated by the unseemly variety of problems faced by an average Nigerian worker and the fundamental question as the level and quality of Trade Union organization their defined ideologies and the motives of these unions towards their members are examined.The objective of this study is to seek ways to correct these varieties of problems and to ensure that Trade Union has enough impact positively on workers. Two research questions were raised for the study while two research hypothe ... Continue reading---
