An analysis of industrial relations practice in nigeria. Trade unions in nigeria, with the federated unions for trade unions in nigeria, have failed to enlighten their members, employers, with other stakeholders, on the twentyfirst century benefits of trade unions to employers and employees via trade unions, and the necessity for these stakeholders to enter into loose partnerships to the benefit of. Key issues and problems of internal democracy in nigeria pp. The evolution of trade union in nigeria can be tied to. This law opened the way for the registration of trade unions in the country. A challenge for nigerian trade unions i n 20082009, the human development index hdi for the northeast was 0. It will also highlight other functions of trade unions that aim towards benefitting both organization and employees. Every person in entitled to assemble freely and form association with political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of their rights. Economic recession, trade unions and labour relations. Trade unions in many african countries played a muscular and seminal role in the late 1980s and early 1990s in mobilizing the mass protests and strikes that led to the overthrow of old. It describes country case studies from zambia, ghana, zimbabwe, nigeria, namibia, and south africa.
Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and includes the federations of. In the united states, trade unions go by the name labor unions. This is because before the coming of the colonialists. These chiefly contributed to the emergence of trade unions in nigeria.
Section 316 of the trade unions act, as amended, provides as follows. It was founded in 1978 following a merger of four different organisations. The aim of the association or union in most cases often include. Labour unions typically fund the formal organization. Any organization or group of workers established to achieve one or more of the objectives stated in trade union act is considered to have formed a trade union and therefore must conform to all. In nigeria, workers have various unions which serve as the mouthpiece of members within the profession. Adewumi 1998 stated that the trade union congress in ghana was founded in 1945. Trade union proliferation and strike actions in the public.
Trade union, also called labor union, an association of workers in a particular trade, industry, or company created for the purpose of securing improvements in pay, benefits, working conditions, or social and political status through collective bargaining. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. Trade unions have become an integral part of many professional bodies across the world. In nigeria, trade unions emerged at a time when representative political democracy was not even in existence. The central trade union in the country was 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 see labor unions, ch.
Constitution of nigeria provides freedom to join and form unions. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria. They have played a crucial role in shaping the nigerian society, economy, and democracy. For instance, the railway worker union was formed in 1899. In nigeria, workers have various unions which serve as the mouthpiece of. Some notable contributions to democracy in nigeria were against military rule, especially during the agitation for free and fair elections in june 1993 and also in the fights against corruption. The trade unions act, as amended in this act reformed to as the principal act is further amended as set out in this act.
Trade unions laws in nigeria under the trade unions act. Their purpose is to protect and improve peoples pay and conditions of employment. Although a few trade unions had been formed in nigeria before 1938, it was not until after the passage in that year of the trades union ordinance by the nigerian government that many trade unions were formed by nigerian workers. Challenges facing trade unions in nigeria information. Trade unions laws in nigeria under the trade unions act uzor anozieayoka, esq. The first formal trade union was established on 19 th of august, 1912. Also in force was the trade disputes act of 1958, which legalized. Trade unions are associations of workers formed to represent their interests and improve their pay and working conditions. A dialectical framework for understanding industrial relations in nigeria au. This booklet examines the legal, economic, and political environment in which trade unions operate in africa and attempts to identify the key challenges facing them. Objectives, function, formation, regulation, rights and liabilities. It has been functioning in various fields of human endeavour, including professional bodies, artisans and others.
Trade unionism in nigeria is as old as colonisation in nigeria. Trade unions and workers union laws in nigeria mywage. This is because before the coming of the colonialists there was in place some forms of trade unions and trade unionism. The trade union is a militant organisation designed to fight for the cause of the workers. Trade unions are associations of workers or organization formed together by labour, workers or employees to achieve their demands for better conditions at their work atmosphere. Pdf this volume is the definitive word on the topic, and likely will remain so for some time.
The activities of the labour unions no doubt made the colonial government to formally pass legislation in 1938. Trapped between an ongoing informalisation of the african economies on the one hand and the consequences of. One of the main aims of the organisation of workers into trade. Trade unions in present era of industrial development, perform two sets of functions. Nigeria labour congress nlc is an umbrella organization for trade unions in nigeria.
It said that trade unions in nigeria are interested in the regulations, measures and legislation made under the ongoing war and therefore asked the colonial government to consult them on such issues. Since its formation in nigeria over a century ago, it has transited. Regulation of relations, settlement of grievances, raising new demands on behalf of workers, collective bargaining and negotiations are the other key principle functions that these trade unions perform. It is not possible to list all of them here, but we do certainly make mention of some of them.
It also seeks to examine the relationship between trade unionism and the actions of management. Trade unionism in the postcolonial period in nigeria at independence in 1960, the structure and control of trade unions in the country was guided by the 1938 trade union ordinance, as amended, labour code ordinance no. Trade unions in nigeria started as voluntary organizations of workpeople aimed at. The story of trade unionism trade union congress nigeria. Trade unionism, collective bargaining and nation building 141 nlc or agency. Decisions reached at such negotiations are usually implemented by the parties involved. Nigerias 10 most powerful trade unions premium times. In 1900, a growing body of wage earners had been called into existence in the country following the expansion of the. Registration of trade combinations as trade unions. The total membership had risen from 274,126 in 1940 to about 900,000 in 1976 sonubi, 1986. The impact of trade unions on productivity 1855 words.
Trade unions and trade unionism in nigeria are said to be part of the legacy of colonilisation of nigeria. The indian trade union act, 1926, is the principle act which controls and regulates the mechanism of trade unions. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our cookie policy. Introduction to trade unions what is human resource. Nigeria where there are far more unions than that of ghana. In the nigeria case, for example, organised labour should encourage some degree of deregulation in. Introduction the doctrine of unionism has been in existence from time immemorial. Fiwon federation of informal workers of nigeria g20 group of 20. Trade unions in nigeria have played significant roles in the fight for democracy.
Nigeria trade union congress ntuc, labour unity front luf, united labour congress. This paper takes a look at the effect of recession on trade unions in nigeria and its implications for trade union practice and management in terms of the following variables. Labour unions and the transformation of the nigerian civil. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. In the 1970s, the merger of trade unions that took place was mainly because of the problems associated with the existence of too many trade unions in the public service. A labor union, or trade union, is an organization of workers who have joined together to achieve goals in areas such as wages and working.
In nigeria, the issue of collective bargaining was provided for under the labour act. Nigeria in 1960 was also characterized by mass resistance, mass strikes and protests, enormous sacrifices largely by nigerian workers, their trade unions and labour movements. The main purpose of this research work is to analyze and evaluate if there is actually any relationship between trade unionism and the growth if public sector organization in nigeria with special references to academic staff union of polytechnics. This study aims at finding out the effect of trade unionism on workers. However this union was not recognised and therefore suffered harassment by employers until 1938 when the trade union ordinance was enacted. Trade union proliferation does not encourage viable trade unionism rather what happens is that you have trade unions with very high nuisance value because every now and then.