Development of Nigerian Labour Congress
BACKGROUND TO THE FORMATION OF NLC
Labour organization in Nigeria dates back to 1912 when the workers in the Civil Service under the then Colonial administration organized themselves into workers representatives. This then became known as the Nigeria Civil Service Union. This led the way for workers in other sectors to agitate for the formation of Trade Unions before and after independence in 1960.
By 1975 during the Military regime of General Murtala Mohammed, Trade Unions in the country had risen to over 1000 which include Mushroom Unions.
In 1976, the Government established a Commission of inquiry into the activities of the various Unions and appointed an administrator to oversee the unions and come up with a structure for the proper administration of the Unions. This became necessary because most of the Unions were polarized into ideological divide which was creating problems in the country. By the end of 1977, they were restructured into 42 unions along industrial line. The government also insisted on the formation of a Labour Centre as there were various multiple centers. This led to the inauguration of the Nigeria Labour Congress in February 1978. The then 42 Industrial Unions became affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress with a legal backing of Trade Union (Amendment) Decree 22 of 1978.
In 1989, the Trade Unions were again restructured to become 29 affiliate unions to the Nigeria Labour Congress. The NLC thus became the strong backbone of the other unions. It coordinates the affairs of all these unions and these unions are deemed to be affiliated to the NLC. Although were some specifications and guidelines in the procedure for such affiliation, the NLC became the centre force between the government and the various trade unions affiliated to it. The affiliated trade unions must make some reservations to the NLC from the monies collected from their members. It is the NLC that has in a long run intervened in the government face off with the
Labour organization in Nigeria dates back to 1912 when the workers in the Civil Service under the then Colonial administration organized themselves into workers representatives. This then became known as the Nigeria Civil Service Union. This led the way for workers in other sectors to agitate for the formation of Trade Unions before and after independence in 1960.
By 1975 during the Military regime of General Murtala Mohammed, Trade Unions in the country had risen to over 1000 which include Mushroom Unions.
In 1976, the Government established a Commission of inquiry into the activities of the various Unions and appointed an administrator to oversee the unions and come up with a structure for the proper administration of the Unions. This became necessary because most of the Unions were polarized into ideological divide which was creating problems in the country. By the end of 1977, they were restructured into 42 unions along industrial line. The government also insisted on the formation of a Labour Centre as there were various multiple centers. This led to the inauguration of the Nigeria Labour Congress in February 1978. The then 42 Industrial Unions became affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress with a legal backing of Trade Union (Amendment) Decree 22 of 1978.
In 1989, the Trade Unions were again restructured to become 29 affiliate unions to the Nigeria Labour Congress. The NLC thus became the strong backbone of the other unions. It coordinates the affairs of all these unions and these unions are deemed to be affiliated to the NLC. Although were some specifications and guidelines in the procedure for such affiliation, the NLC became the centre force between the government and the various trade unions affiliated to it. The affiliated trade unions must make some reservations to the NLC from the monies collected from their members. It is the NLC that has in a long run intervened in the government face off with the
References: Lukman, M.L (2003) ‘The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Challenges Ahead’ Alalade, F.O Alubo, S.O. (2007) 'Fuelling the Crisis: Labour, the State and Pump Price Increases in Nigeria ', A commissioned research paper, Nigeria Labour Congress, October, 2007 Anyanwu, C Awolowo, O. (1974) Cited in Sagay, I. E. (1995) 'Nigeria: The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Law ' in Ajomo, M.A. and Sambo, A. (eds.) Nigeria: Democracy and the Rule of Law. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Bafyau, P Sunmonu H (1998). ‘Development, Democracy and Trade Unions, in F. Adewumi, (ed.), Trade Unions, National Development and Military Rule, Lagos: Friedrich Ebert Foundation Otobo, D (2006): Readings in Industrial Relations in Nigeria, Malthouse Otobo, D (2006): Further Readings in Nigerian Industrial Relations, Malthouse Press Ltd., Lagos. Adeyemi, D.A (2004). Organized Labour and Political Development in Nigeria, Calabar: Centaur Press