Nigerian Government Plans Legislative Attack on Trade Union Rights

Posted to the IUF website 19-Jul-2004

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The government of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has introduced into Parliament a Draft Bill which attacks basic trade union rights. Bypassing the work of an ILO tripartite Technical Committee on labour law reform, the Draft Bill to amend the Trade Unions Act would, among other features, deregister the Nigerian Labour Congress, the country's national center, severely restrict the right to strike and hamper the collection of union dues through the checkoff system.

The NLC has become a thorn in the side of the Abasanjo government owing to its ability to lead successful popular mobilizations against proposed fuel price increases. The government has responded to mass demonstrations with police violence. The IUF and other international trade union organizations have supported the NLCs call for international pressure on the government by writing to the Nigerian authorities.

More information is available on the ICFTU website by clicking here.