African Workers Accuse Nigeria of Violating ILO Conventions
By Chris Nwachuku
African Trade Unions Centre has petitioned President Olusegun Obasanjo on the use of physical harassment and intimidation against unionists in Nigeria. It noted that the action of Federal Government clearly violates basic conventions of International Labour Organisation (ILO) especially on trade union rights.
African Unions, under the auspices of International Congress of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), African Regional Organisation (AFRO) also demanded an independent and judicial inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of aviation expert Mr Jerry Agbeyegbe.
ICFTU-AFRO petitions is coming on the heels of similar protest by America Labour Centre accusing the Nigerian Government of anti-labour practices, as well as dictatorial tendencies that are worse than the harshest military regime in the country.
The General Secretary of ICFTU-AFRO, Andrew Kailembo the arrest and detention of unionists at the peak of the last Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) induced-strike is a demonstration of state repression.
"I am afraid what we see is nothing but state repression and we are coming to the conclusion that those days when law enforcement agencies acted with impunity are not far from over. The country appears to have the trappings of a democracy, but not the substance and content. Abuses of workers' rights continue to take place unchecked and what we see in the country smacks of nothing else but state repression," said Kailembo.
Particularly, the organisation expressed grave worrisome at the style of Obasanjo's leadership that seeks to intimidate people with contrary views from that of government. "We as workers of Africa had high hopes for Nigeria and expected that the bad old days, when individuals disappeared for no apparent reason, other than that they held different opinions were over. We had hoped that a diversified and mature country under your leadership would give a lead in social dialogue and allow people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to express their opinions openly and freely," the General Secretary said.
He noted that the arrest and physical harassment of the NLC President Adams Oshiomhole, the murder of a 12-year-old boy by Kaduna Police Command officers and the arrest of many others only paint a very gloomy picture of events in Nigeria. Kailembo said the conflict reports from government agencies on the circumstances surrounding the death of former unionist, Agbeyegbe has not helped the case of Nigeria.
"These events, only add to the many cases of violations of workers and trade union rights, as stipulated in the ILO Convention 87 some of which go unreported."
The African workers reminded Obasanjo of series of letters it had written to him on issues of petroleum product prices especially as it affects labour market, and the absence of social dialogue between government and stakeholders, asserting that recent actions of government indicate that all their request had fallen on deaf ears.
The continental workers urged Obasanjo to give direction that can lead the people of Nigeria to peace, security and stability, so that the country can move to development and prosperity.
They also appealed to the President to immediately release all trade unionists under arrest and drop any charges preferred against them, saying that only this action would guarantee peace and freedom, under which social dialogue can really take place in a democratic environment.
On Agbeyegbe's death, the Labour body said only an independent, judicial and public enquiry can unearth the cause of the death and urged Obasanjo to accelerate the process.
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