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LABOUR
UNREST AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL OF 2000-2013
Abstract
One of the major impediments to
development in Nigeria is labour unrest. This is given the fact that no Nation
can develop without human resource because they constitute and play very
significant role in Nation building and development. The Nigerian case has been
so pervasive that labour unrest extends to every situation when the Government
takes major public policy decision that seems to affect the labour union and generally
the masses without due consultation of labour statement; especially that which
affects the social life of their member and welfare packages of the entire
masses, specifically that which affect the socio-economic and political
aspects, hence Nigerian development remain dependent. Thus in our attempt to
analyze and investigate this problem, we use the relative deprivation theory
for theoretical framework while documentary research method was also used for
gathering and analyzing data. This research work, labour unrest and
underdevelopment in Nigeria: An appraisal from 2000 – 2013 is being carried out
for the purpose of assessing various means of curbing labour unrest. This study
is however divided into five chapters, chapter one deals with the background of
study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, significance of the
study, hypotheses, method of data collection and analysis, scope and limitation
of the study and definition of terms. Chapter two contains the public policies
and labour unrest in Nigeria. In chapter three, we looked at labour unrest and
underdevelopment. Chapter four of this work dealt with the strategies for
curbing labour unrest in Nigeria. Finally, chapter five which is the last
chapter efforts shifted to the summary, conclusion, recommendation and
bibliography. However this work is very incisive, interesting and educating.
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
The organized labour union movements
in Nigeria dates back to 1912, Nigeria workers like their counterparts in other
developing countries have witnessed fundamental changes in their condition over
time. To a large extent, labour unions have played significant roles in the
transformation of most developing countries.
Government is the largest employer
of labour with private individual employing a minimal proportion of the working
class (Fajara, 2000). In Nigeria, labour unions has become a very important
agents of socio-economic transformation and class struggle (Aremu, 1996,
Akinyanju, 1997) which began from the colonial struggle and continued till in
the post independence era. In the later, labour unions played significant role
in the struggle against dictatorial military rule in the country. In the same
vein under the current civilian dispensation, labour unions is at the forefront
of the struggle against unpopular government policies such as deregulation of
the oil sector, retrenchment of workers and refusal to honor agreement on wage
increase.
Nigeria is a third world country
that comprise of labour unions spread across the country. The unions are
structured into industrial line and as at 1977 precisely 42 labour unions were
recognized by the Government and allowed to contribute enormously to the
development of economic, social, cultural and even political system of the
state. The role of these labour unions is usually regarded as people oriented
because it tends to oppose Governmental policies and decisions not favorable to
the masses through strike actions, protest etc popularly called labour unrest.
However, in a multi ethnic
democratic country like Nigeria, there exist different labour unions across the
country. But for the purpose of this study, we shall dwell more on those labour
unions that have in one way or the other succeeded in influencing Governmental
policies and decision. In the past such as: National Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of
Teachers (NUT), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAU) Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ).
In 1978 however, it’s important to
note that Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was formed and inaugurated and the 42
industrial unions became affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress with a
legal backing of the trade union amendment Decree 22 of 1978. Again in 1989 the
trade union was restructured to become 29 affiliates unions to the Nigerian
Labour Congress after their role against the anti-people Structural Adjustment
programme of General Babangida.
Consequently, in 2005, the trade
union act section 33 (2) was amended by substituting the phrase “central labour
organization” for the phrase “federation of trade unions” the intention was to
weaken the cohesion of the trade unions.
Since time immemorial labour unrest
has always occupied the front burner of criticisms and oppositions. in Nigeria
whenever the Government through its policies makes life unbearable for its
citizens.
Nevertheless most activities of the
organized labour in the form of unrest to attack Government policies and
programmes often result in underdevelopment and grounding of the economy
culminating in loss of revenues and sundry economic activities. However, it is
not implausible to aver that one of the greatest problems that result to labour
unrest and consequently underdevelopment is Governmental policies and
programmes on certain National issues especially those that affect the labour
unions across the Nation.
In the light of these, this research
work is inspired out of the burning desire to interrogate the motive of the
labour union in their activities through protest, strikes etc against certain
Governmental policies and programmes through a critical analysis and
alternative roadmap to labour unrest with a view to averting resultant and
decay in Nigeria.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
Labour unrest remain one of the most
glaring problems hindering the development of this great nation especially when
Government tends to implement policies and programmes not favorably for the
majority of the people in the society (country). This is because the labour
unions, using the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) ad TUC (Trade Union Congress)
as the umbrella bodies tends to constitute parts of organization or union that
keeps the country going through their daily activities. In order words, when
there is labour unrest, the economy of the country tends to be disrupted and
destabilized which is why whenever Government policies and programmes that are not
favorable to labour are formulated, there is usually a mass protest and strikes
that dislocates the economy as the civil servants who are very significant to
the Government of the day also partake in the strike and protest by not going
to work.
However, the study shall make a
critical appraisal of some of the major cases (protest and strikes) by labour
unions and also investigate their modus operandi, so as to River at the
objectives of the study, in the quest of doing this, the following research
question would serve as a guide.
- Are public policies responsible for labour unrest in Nigeria?
- Is underdevelopment a consequent of labour unrest in Nigeria?
iii. Can dialogue and collective
bargaining curb labour unrest in Nigeria?
1.3
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of the study is
to assess the consequences of labour unrest on Nigeria’s development. Thus the
specific objectives of the study are:
(i) To ascertain if public policies
are responsible for labour unrest in Nigeria.
(ii) To determine if underdevelopment
is a consequence of labour unrest in Nigeria.
(iii) To discover if dialogue and
collective bargaining can curb labour union in Nigeria
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