Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-09T23:00:05.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Remarkable returns: the influence of a labour-led socio-economic rights movement on legislative reasoning, process and action in Nigeria, 1999–2007*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2009

Obiora Chinedu Okafor
Obiora Chinedu Okafor*
Affiliation:
Osgoode Hall Law School and the Harriett Tubman Institute for the Study of the African Diaspora, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
*
Email: ookafor@yorku.ca
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

During 1999–2007, a labour-led but broad-based socio-economic rights movement, which focused on a pro-poor (and therefore highly popular) anti-fuel price hike message, persuaded and/or pressured Nigeria's federal legislature, the National Assembly, to: mediate between it and the Executive Branch of Government; take it seriously enough to lobby it repeatedly; re-orient its legislative processes; explicitly oppose virtually all of the Executive Branch's fuel price hikes; and reject key anti-labour provisions in a government bill. Yet the movement did not always succeed in its efforts to influence the National Assembly. This article maps, discusses, contextualises and analyses these generally remarkable developments. It also argues that while many factors combined to facilitate or militate against the movement's impact on legislative reasoning, process and action during the relevant period, this movement's ‘mass social movement’ character was the pivotal factor that afforded it the necessary leverage to exert considerable, if limited, influence on the National Assembly.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , June 2009 , pp. 241 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

For the generous funds that made this study possible, I am grateful to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). I should like to thank Obiora Anozie, Chikeziri Igwe, Opeoluwa Ogundokun, Tony Ceaser Okeke and Pius Okoronkwo for their excellent research assistance. The two anonymous reviewers also deserve my gratitude for suggestions that significantly improved the article.

References

REFERENCES

Abimbola, A. 2002. ‘Pressure groups and the democratic process in Nigeria (1979–1993)’, Nordic Journal of African Studies 11: 38–47.Google Scholar
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. 1981. Available at: <http://www.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/z1afchar.htm>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=African+Charter+on+Human+and+Peoples'+Rights.+1981.+Available+at:+.>Google Scholar
Aina, T. A. 1990. ‘Organized labour and politics in Nigeria during “the second republic” (1979–1983)’, Zeitscrift fur Afrikastudien 6: 39–52.Google Scholar
Aiyede, E. R. 2004. ‘United we stand: labour unions and human rights in the democratisation process in Nigeria’, Development in Practice 14, 1–2: 224–33.Google Scholar
BBC. 2000. ‘Nigerian strikers reject fuel offer’, 8.6.2000, available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/782242.stm>, accessed 8.6.2000.,+accessed+8.6.2000.>Google Scholar
BBC. 2004. ‘Changes to Nigeria union bill’, 10.9.2004, available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3643836.stm>, accessed 10.9.2004.,+accessed+10.9.2004.>Google Scholar
BBC. 2005a. ‘Nigerian law curbs unions power’, 31.3.2005, available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4396257.stm>, accessed 31.3.2005.,+accessed+31.3.2005.>Google Scholar
BBC. 2005b. ‘Nigerian[s] march against fuel hikes’, 3.10.2005, available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4244556.stm>, accessed 3.10.2005.,+accessed+3.10.2005.>Google Scholar
BBC. 2005c. ‘Nigerian unions call off strike’, 8.10.2005, available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4013099.stm>, accessed 8.10.2005.,+accessed+8.10.2005.>Google Scholar
Constitution of Nigeria. 1999. Available at: <http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm>, accessed 11.9.2007.,+accessed+11.9.2007.>Google Scholar
Daily Champion. 2005. ‘Fuel price hike: NANS plans nationwide protest’, 2.9.2005, available at: <http://allAfrica.com>, accessed 2.9.2005.,+accessed+2.9.2005.>Google Scholar
Dawodu.com. 2003. ‘Text of a national broadcast by President Olusegun Obasanjo, October 8, 2003’, available at: <http://www.dawodu.com/obas17.htm>, accessed 10.10.2007.,+accessed+10.10.2007.>Google Scholar
Finnemore, M. & Sikkink, K.. 1998. ‘International norm dynamics and political change’, International Organization 52, 4: 887–917.Google Scholar
House of Representatives (HoR). 6.10.2004. Order Paper, Motion, 2nd National Assembly 135, Second Session, No. 45.Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2003. ‘Nigeria: renewed crackdown on freedom of expression’, Report, December 2003, vol. 15, no. 19(A), available at: <http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/nigeria1203/nigeria1203.pdf>, accessed 4.12.2003.,+accessed+4.12.2003.>Google Scholar
Lado, C. 2000. ‘The state and civil society: transition and prospects of labour geographies in an era of economic globalisation in Nigeria and South Africa’, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 21: 295–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Assembly. 2008. Available at: <http://www.nassnig.org>, 6.6.2008. accessed 6.6.2008.,+6.6.2008.+accessed+6.6.2008.>Google Scholar
National Assembly Debates (NAD). 2003a. National Assembly Debates (House of Representatives), 7.10.2003, vol. i, no. 34.Google Scholar
NAD. 2003b. National Assembly Debates (House of Representatives), Official Report, 21.10.2003, vol. i, no. 40. Abuja: National Assembly.Google Scholar
NAD. 2004a. National Assembly Debates (The Senate), Official Report, 24.8.2004, vol. i, no. 15. Abuja: National Assembly.Google Scholar
NAD. 2004b. National Assembly Debates (The Senate), Official Report, 9.9.2004, vol. i, no. 22. Abuja: National Assembly.Google Scholar
NAD. 2004c. National Assembly Debates (HOR), Fourth Republic, Official Report, 15.12.2004, vol. 2, no. 19. Abuja: National Assembly.Google Scholar
NAD. 2004d. National Assembly Debates (HOR), Fourth Republic, Official Report, 16.12.2004, vol. ii, no. 20. Abuja: National Assembly.Google Scholar
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Constitution. 1999. On file with the author.Google Scholar
NLC. 2003. ‘Report on the fuel strike 2003’, available at: <http://www.nlcng.org/legislative/reportofthefuelstrike.htm>, accessed 7.7.2005.,+accessed+7.7.2005.>Google Scholar
NLC. 2004a. ‘President Obasanjo's trade union bills: message to Nigerians’, available at: <http://www.nlcng.org/July2004/messagetonigerianpeople.htm>, accessed 5.9.2005., accessed 5.9.2005.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=NLC.+2004a.+‘President+Obasanjo's+trade+union+bills:+message+to+Nigerians’,+available+at:+,+accessed+5.9.2005.>Google Scholar
NLC. 2004b. Position on the Bill for an Act to Amend the Trade Unions Act, 8·2004. On file with the author.Google Scholar
NLC. 2004c. ‘Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from John Odah, NLC General Secretary’, available at: <http://www.nlcng.org/march2005/newbillletter.htm>, accessed 3.10.2005.,+accessed+3.10.2005.>Google Scholar
NLC Profile. 2008. Available at: <http://www.nlcng.org/PROFILE/historyofcongress.htm>, 23.4.2008, accessed 23.4.2008.,+23.4.2008,+accessed+23.4.2008.>Google Scholar
Nwaigwe, P. 2004. ‘Fuel hike: reps move to empower NLC’, available at: <http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2004/oct/01/092.html>, 23.4.2004, accessed 23.4.2004.,+23.4.2004,+accessed+23.4.2004.>Google Scholar
Okafor, O. C. 2004. ‘Modest harvests: on the significant (but limited) impact of human rights NGOs on legislative and executive behaviour in Nigeria’, Journal of African Law 48: 23–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Okafor, O. C. 2007. ‘The precarious place of labour rights and movements in Nigeria's dual economic and political transition, 1999–2005’, Journal of African Law 51: 68–94.Google Scholar
Okafor, O. C. in prep. ‘What should African human rights activism become?’, unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Olowu, D. 2006. ‘Globalization, labour rights, and the challenges of trade unionism in Africa’, Sri Lanka Journal of International Law 18: 129–48.Google Scholar
Onyeonoru, I. & Aborisade, F.. 2001. ‘The remote causes of the oil workers’ 1994 strike in Nigeria’, Africa Development 26, 3 & 4: 43–66.Google Scholar
PM News. 2004. ‘Massob, ASUU to join strike’, available at: <http://allAfrica.com>, 5.11.2004, accessed 5.11.2004.,+5.11.2004,+accessed+5.11.2004.>Google Scholar
Ruggie, J. G. 1995. ‘Peace in our time? Causality, social facts and narrative knowing’, American Society of International Law Proceedings 89: 93–9.Google Scholar
Senate Committee. 2004a. ‘Report of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity on the “Bill for an Act to amend the Trade Unions Act as amended and for matters connected therewith”’, 31.8.2004. On file with the author.Google Scholar
Senate Committee. 2004b. ‘Report of the meeting held by the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity with stakeholders on the recent increases in the pump prices of petroleum products and the threat of a nationwide strike by NLC and civil society groups’, 10·2004. On file with the author.Google Scholar
Stammers, N. 1999. ‘Social movements and the social construction of human rights’, Human Rights Quarterly 21: 980–1002.Google Scholar
The Vanguard. 2003. ‘Wabara's bid to stop Thursday strike collapses’, available at: <http://allAfrica.com>, 7.10.2003, accessed 7.10.2003., 7.10.2003, accessed 7.10.2003.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The+Vanguard.+2003.+‘Wabara's+bid+to+stop+Thursday+strike+collapses’,+available+at:+,+7.10.2003,+accessed+7.10.2003.>Google Scholar
The Vanguard. 2005. ‘Fuel price hike: Uniben students threaten to storm Abuja in protest’, 2.9.2005, available at: <http://allAfrica.com>, accessed 2.9.2005.,+accessed+2.9.2005.>Google Scholar
The Vanguard. 2007. ‘Senate to break recess over labour, FG face-off’, 13.6.2007, available at: <http://allAfrica.com>, accessed 13.6.2005.,+accessed+13.6.2005.>Google Scholar
This Day. 2005. ‘Minister defends Trade Union Amendments Act’, 4.2.2005, available at: <http://www.thisdayonline.com>, accessed 4.2.2005.,+accessed+4.2.2005.>Google Scholar
Trade Disputes Act. 1990. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Cap. 432. Abuja.Google Scholar
Trade Unions Act. 1990. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Cap. 437. Abuja.Google Scholar
Trade Union (Amendment) Act. 2005. Available at: <http://www.nigeria-law.org/TradeUnion(Amendment)Act2005.htm>, accessed 23.9.2005.,+accessed+23.9.2005.>Google Scholar
Trade Union Amendment Bill. 2004. ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the Trade Unions Act as amended and for matters connected therewith’. On file with the author.Google Scholar
Trade Union (Amendment) Decree. 1996a. No. 4, 5.1.1996. Official Gazette, 1996: A35–A40.Google Scholar
Trade Union (Amendment) (No. 2) Decree. 1996b. No. 26, 16·10·1996. Available at: <http://www.babalakinandco.com/resources/lawsnigeria/AMENDMENTS/9626TRADE%20UNIONS%20(AMENDMENT)%20.htm>, accessed 27.12.2008.,+accessed+27.12.2008.>Google Scholar
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). 2008. Available at: <http://tucnigeria.org>, accessed 6.6.2008.,+accessed+6.6.2008.>Google Scholar
Turner, T. E. & Brownhill, L. S.. 2004. ‘Why women are at war with Chevron: Nigerian subsistence struggles against the international oil industry’, Journal of Asian and African Studies 39, 1–2: 63–93.Google Scholar
Udombana, N. 2006. ‘Social rights are human rights: actualizing the rights to work and social security in Africa’, Cornell International Law Journal 39: 181–242.Google Scholar
World Development Movement (WDM). 2005. ‘World Development Movement Report’, available at: <http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/cambriefs/debt/unrest.pdf>, accessed 3.10.2005.,+accessed+3.10.2005.>Google Scholar

Confidential interviews

Informant 1, Labour Union official, Abuja, Nigeria. 19.7.2004.

Informant 5, Labour Union official, Lagos, Nigeria. 26.7.2004.

Informant 6, Labour Union official, Lagos, Nigeria. 26.7.2004.

Informant 9, Abuja, Nigeria. 19.7.2005.

Informant 10, Labour Union official, Abuja, Nigeria. 18.7.2005.