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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Monday, 28 June, 2004, 13:33 GMT 14:33 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Nigeria seeks to curb union power The latest petrol prices rise was scaled back after a general strike Nigeria's powerful umbrella trade union body will be broken up, the president has said. President Olusegun Obasanjo said this would introduce "democracy" to the Nigeria Labour Congress. The NLC has called general strikes against fuel prices rises three times in the past nine months - most recently earlier this month. But Mr Obasanjo said the unions were overstepping their powers in trying to change government policy. 'Angry president' Mr Obasanjo said he had set up the NLC when he was a military ruler in the 1970s, but it should now be decentralised. "We forced the people to belong to the union because we were military. We are now in a democracy and we want Nigerians to do things democratically, but labour does not want to be democratic," he said. Obasanjo wants the unions to be 'democratic' But NLC leader Adams Oshiomhole said the union federation would not be broken up. "The right to form and join unions is guaranteed by the constitution and cannot be repudiated by any president, no matter how powerful or angry he might be," he said. Mr Obasanjo has scrapped fuel subsidies in Nigeria, Africa's major oil exporter, leading to huge price rises since he was elected in 1999. But the latest rise was scaled back earlier this month following a general strike, called by the NLC. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectNigeria seeks to curb union powerDarfur war 'threatens Sudan deal'Museveni's anger at court rulingKhat plant 'boosts sperm power'Swazis riot after defeatDeal agreed to avert DR Congo warKenya reaps good behaviour loanSudan under pressure over DarfurPlatinum producer sacks strikersCommonwealth ship idea ridiculedBlack rhinos 'on recovery path''2m short of food' in ZimbabweLocusts top Maghreb agendaRwanda genocide courts expandedUN talking tough in Ivory CoastDiamonds to get 'ethical' labelSouth African singing star killedUN 'standing firm' on W SaharaAlgerian press decries journalists' jailingPolio epidemic warning for AfricaAnnan seeks to evade Sudan blameWHO warns on alternative medicineShould bad leaders be removed by force?Grim times in SudanSudan paves road to peaceThe threat to DR Congo's peaceUganda calls out to its lost childrenProgrammes and schedules  SEE ALSO: Nigerian union calls off strike 11 Jun 04  |  Africa In pictures: Nigeria fuel strike 10 Jun 04  |  Photo Gallery Nigeria's press anger over petrol hikes 10 Jun 04  |  Africa Nigeria tackles fuel subsidies 18 Jul 03  |  Business Nigeria fuel strike ban fails 06 Feb 04  |  Africa Country profile: Nigeria 17 Dec 03  |  Country profiles RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Nigerian government NLC The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Nigeria seeks to curb union power Darfur war 'threatens Sudan deal' Museveni's anger at court ruling Khat plant 'boosts sperm power' News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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