Trade Unionism And Government Restructuring Exercise of 1978

Trade unionism can be defined as the organization of unions in industrial line. This practice was rare in the development of trade union in Nigeria until 1976. In the past, workers were being organized basically on company and regional basis.

For instance, unions such as united African company workers union (UAC), northern mining workers union, western telephonists union, and federal labor organization to which some company or house based unions were affiliated. The company based unions will direct their activities or requests via the amalgamated unions to their employers. The process ran into difficulty as a result of multiple unions formed within the same firm. In addition, the unions were corely administered, inadequately financed, loyally disunited and foreign dependent. This situation threatened the national peace.

As a result of this, the federal government appointed an administrator to restructure the existing unions in 1978. The aim of the restructuring exercise was to bring about better established unions with greater organizational efficiency through democratic principles. The successful completion of the exercise brought about greater sense of direction in labor management relationship in the country.

For instance, the restructuring exercise led to the creation of some viral national associations which include; nice employers’ association, four professional associations, and fifteen senior staff associations. For the first time, the employers and professionals were accorded statutory bargaining right to form trade union. These include: Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The restructuring exercise also prompted the government to introduce check-off system through which members will contribute part of their salary for the economic mainstay of the union. The exercise also witnessed the ban of some unscrupulous trade union leaders from involving in the unions’ activities. Similarly, foreign labor organizations were restricted from involving in the labor union administration in Nigeria.

Finally, the government restructuring exercise of 1978 led to the creation of Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) will today serves as an umbrella for other trade unions in the country.