Since its formation in nigeria over a century ago, it has transited. A dialectical framework for understanding industrial relations in nigeria au. The trade union movement on the other hand, started after 1918, when the workers formed their associations to improve their conditions. This is a list of trade unions and union federations by country. The government drew its support from the western african frontier force waff which was under the command of lugard. So tradeunion are the spontaneous reaction of the growth of capitalism 8. It was not until the 1930s, that the nigerian union of teachers and the railway workers union came to challenge this status.
Trade unions laws in nigeria under the trade unions act uzor anozieayoka, esq. The aim of the association or union in most cases often include. It has been functioning in various fields of human endeavour, including professional bodies, artisans and others. Secondly, a trade union is confined to workers alone. The evolution of trade union in nigeria can be tied to four major factors, namely.
The nigeria labour congress nlc and the trade union congress tuc are the central trade union organisation for the thirty six 36 industrial unions in the country and therefore provides a common platform for its affiliates. Trade unionism in nigeria is as old as colonisation in nigeria. It began with a broad definition of trade union in an ordinary sense and from a legal perspective. The 1938 trade union ordinance robbed off the nscu of this position.
Labour unions and the transformation of the nigerian civil. Trade union is an association formed to regulate the terms and conditions of employment of workers. The recognition of the nigerian civil service union by the british colonial government as the first trade union in the nation in 1912 set the pace for workers rights awareness and the. Put a condition in a contract of employment preventing an employee joining a trade union. Itis a symbol of unity and strength of the countrys trade union movement. Trade unions and leadership in nigerias new democracy. Trade unions and workers union laws in nigeria mywage. This trade union represents all workers with different skills in a particular industry. Management of trade unions in nigeria under a recessionary. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican. Before 1938 when trade union ordinance ushered in formal trade union activities, what looked like trade unions were in nigeria in form of trade associations, craft and professional trade association called african guilds and craft association.
The mandatory rule is that no member of the union may take part in a strike unless a majority of members have voted in favour of the strike in a secret ballot. List of trade unions and professional bodies in nigeria. In nigeria the principal legislation regulating trade unionism which is the trade union act the act requires that a trade union must be registered before it can carry out any of the purposes for which it. They have played a crucial role in shaping the nigerian society, economy, and democracy. Between 1940 and 1950, some 144 trade unions with a. Top 10 trade unions in nigeria and facts you should know. This paper takes a colossal look at the function and performance of trade unionism in a developing nation with a special emphasis on west africa as a whole and nigeria ij. And b on the basis of membership the indian national trade union congress intuc. Trade unions, trade union movements in nigeria, right of workers, trade union rights. The trade union movement in nigeria emerged out of this early resistance.
Egboh 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. The story of trade unionism trade union congress nigeria. The essence of registration of trade union in nigeria. To continually promote, defend and advance the economic, political and social well being of nigerian workers.
The trade unions act, as amended in this act reformed to as the principal act is further amended as set out in this act. The maiden nigerian annual trade policy report has been published by the nigerian office for trade negotiations notn. Introduction the doctrine of unionism has been in existence from time immemorial. Cole, a trade union means an association of workers in one or more occupations. Trade unions can be categorized into different groups. However this union was not recognised and therefore suffered harassment by employers until 1938 when the trade union ordinance was enacted. Trade unions must also have registered rules that includes provisions dealing with matters such as the unions purpose, funds, accounts, membership dues, officers and discipline. However, the legal definition as we shall see shortly is not as expansive as that. In fact the trade union movement in nigeria has been described and documented as one of the oldest in black africa. Anti capitalism approach by marx marx said that trade union is an instrument for destroying the capitalist class.
It is, thus, a part of the labour movement, which is. The legal frame work of trade union activism and the role. In nigeria, workers have various unions which serve as the mouthpiece of members within the profession. Trade unions laws in nigeria under the trade unions act. Labour act only covers employees engaged under a contract of manual labour or clerical work. Trade unions are associations of workers formed to represent their interests and improve their pay and working conditions. Nigeria as a nation is closely linked to the history of trade union movement.
The webbs1 defined a trade union as a continuous association of wageearners for the purpose of maintaining of improving the conditions of their working lives. Trade union congress rivers state council promote a cordial workatmosphere engaging her affiliates in a series of human capacity building and training. It is against the above background that we shall attempt to examine the prospects and challenges of trade union unity in nigeria. The article further argues that a denial or limitation by law and the public. The colonial trade union ordinance of 1938 allowed any five or more persons to form trade unions. This union represents workers with a particular type of skill e. Sweden, the deunionization of manual workers not only in industry was strongly linked to changes in. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria. This is known as the paybargaining process, and it is an example of collective bargaining the first stage in this process is for each side the employer and the trade union to decide on its objectives.
The evolution of trade union in nigeria can be tied to. Labor unions have been a part of nigerian industry since 1912, when government employees formed a civil service union. In 1900, a growing body of wage earners had been called into existence in the country following the expansion of the. Trade union is necessary to bring about revolutionary and fundamental changes in social class order. Nigerias 10 most powerful trade unions premium times. This report is one of several steps to implement the firm determination of the federal government of nigeria fgn to diversify the economy and, ensure that trade and companion investment and digital economy policies, function more. Below is a list of various trade unions and their descriptions. Trade unions have become an integral part of many professional bodies across the world. 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. Freedom of association and the protection of trade union. The history of nigeria trade unionnlcis an umbrella organization for trade unions in nigeria. The nigeria union of teachers, nut, was founded in july 1931 by the amalgamation of the first two teachers associations in nigeria, namely, lagos union of.
Union representing workers who share the same skillset or who perform identical tasks. Human and trade union rights in nigeria industriall. What is the history of trade unionism in nigeria answers. Medical and health workers union of nigeria address. Refuse to employ a person on the grounds that he is a member of a union. Industrial unionism and its bargaining correlates in nigeria. We need a trade union movement that stands unwavering in the face of current systematic assaults on. We need a trade union movement that stands unwavering in the. It was founded in 1978 following a merger of four different organisations. Discriminate against a worker on the grounds that he is a member of a union. From 1912 to 1922, the nigeria civil service union, nscu was the only major union in nigeria. This article highlights the major types of trade unions in nigeria and their functions. This is because before the coming of the colonialists there was in place some forms of trade unions and trade unionism. Trade unions as represented by the nigeria labour congress nlc in the.
Types, structure and functions of trade unions trade. 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. The role of trade unionism in a developing economy. Nigeria trade union congress ntuc, labour unity front luf, united labour congress ulc and nigeria workers council nwc. Labour union is therefore vital for the improvement of the workers quality of life. Since the formation of the first trade union in nigeria almost a century ago, 1912, the history of the trade union movement has been a mixture of triumphs, intrigues, manipulations and tribulations. Growth and development of trade union in nigeria essays. Trade unions in nigeria have played significant roles in the fight for democracy. A trade union is an organization of workers in a particular profession or service created to represent their interests and also to promote and protect workers working conditions. Trade union rights in africa 177c, ternal security act to charge trade union officials for holding meetings ofunion members, and in the commotion that followed a tradeunionist was shot by the police.
Some of the aims and objectives of trade unions in nigeria according to the nigeria labour congress nlc which is the umbrella body of all trade unions in nigeria are as follows. Trade unions are most closely associated with negotiating with the employers of a business on behalf of their members over the issue of pay. List the names of trade unions in nigeria who is the current president of nigeria labour congress. 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. Pages in category trade unions in nigeria the following 7 pages are in this category, out of 7 total.
The complete guide to registration of trade unions in nigeria may 29, 2019 trade union, also called labor union is 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. This manual captures the essentials for effective trade union administration in a modern. This paper relies heavily on historical facts as well as some existing literatures to conclude that there was in place some forms of trade union and. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. The complete guide to registration of trade unions in nigeria. The first formal trade union was established on 19 th of august, 1912. Challenges facing trade unions in nigeria information.
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