Trade unions in Nigeria are very popular. They have played a crucial role in shaping the Nigerian society, economy, and democracy. This article highlights the major types of trade unions in Nigeria and their functions.
What is a trade union?
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. One major benefit of trade unions is known as collective bargaining. This allows workers to bargain with employers collectively on issues instead individual fighting for their rights. This gives more voice and power to workers. Also, trade unions negotiate pay scales, working regulations, and conditions on behalf of their members as the need arises.
Types of trade unions
There are four major types of trade unions. They are:
1. Industrial Union
This trade union represents all workers with different skills in a particular industry.
2. Craft Union
This union represents workers with a particular type of skill e.g. tailoring.
3. General Union
This union represents workers with different skills in the same labour force in a country or worldwide.
4. White Collar Unions
This union represents white collar jobs workers e.g. accountants, engineers, etc.
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Trade Unions in Nigeria
There are many trade unions in Nigeria. But here are some of the major and popular trade unions in the country.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
The Nigeria Labour Congress is the association representing all categories of workers in Nigeria. It is the union that serves as the umbrella association for trade unions in Nigeria. It was established in 1978. It began after four different organizations were merged together. The trade union was dissolved on two separate occasions during the military regime. It was reinstituted back in 1999.
As of today, the Nigeria Labour Congress has forty-six affiliated industrial unions. It is one of the largest trade union institutions in Africa. The purpose of the Nigeria Labour Congress is to organize, educate and unite all the categories of workers in Nigeria in a bid to promote and protect the socioeconomic and political rights of Nigerian workers.
The labour union is also there to liberate Nigerian workers from every form of discrimination and exploitation. The NLC also fights for gender equality and justice in the place of work. And overall, the pursuit for a transformed Nigeria, just and democratic society. For example, the Nigeria Labour Congress has led workers on different occasions to go on industrial actions to protest against fuel price hike, non-payment of salaries, etc. Former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole is a former president of the NLC. The current president is Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities is an association of all university academic staff in Nigeria. It was established in 1978. Before 1978, the union of university teachers was known as Nigerian Association of University Teachers. The Academic Staff Union of Universities is a trade union to promote good education and learning in Nigerian Universities and also to promote and protect the welfare of its members.
The association is regulated by a National Council headed by a president. During the military regime, the union was involved in a lot of industrial actions against the government for fair wages and autonomy of universities. Since the start of the fourth republic, the association as engaged in numerous popular industrial actions to protest failure of the Federal Government to meet some agreements they had with them.
Also they have engaged in different strike actions to demand for better funding of universities and also payment of certain arrears owned by the Federal Government. A lot of these strikes has affected Nigeria students negatively prolonging their years of study. The current president of ASSU is Dr Nasir Isa Fagge.
Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
This is a major trade union in Nigeria. The Nigeria Union of Teachers was established to formulate a united front for teachers in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. The primary objectives of the union is to promote and protect the socio-economic conditions and economic security of teachers in Nigeria. Another major objective is to promote ideas on developing education in Nigeria.
The union was established in 1931 after the great depression led to cuts in teachers’ salaries and job insecurity. The first president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers was Late Oludotun Ransome Kuti, the father of popular Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The union has led several industrial actions against the Federal Government. The current National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers is Mr. Michael Alogba Olukoya.
National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)
The National Union of Road Transport Workers is the union which serves as an umbrella for road transport workers, public transport companies, and street gangs (popularly known as agberos) in Nigeria. It is one of the major popular trade unions in Nigeria. Their purpose and functions are not very clearly understood. But for most Nigerian, the NURTW regulates the activities of road transport workers like transport fare prices, conduct of workers, control of motor parks etc.
Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers are known to engage in illegal funding activities like collecting illegal monies at illegal checkpoints and some local shop owners. However, the government has been able to curb these actions and to prevent people from collecting unregulated fees outside motor parks.
Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)
The Actors Guild of Nigeria is an organisation responsible for protecting the interest and regulating the affairs of movie actors in Nigeria. The current serving president of AGN is Emeka Ike.
Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN)
The Directors Guild of Nigeria is the union which serves an umbrella for movies and television directors in the Nigeria movieindustry. It was established in 2001 for the protection and welfare of motion pictures directors and to create excellent working conditions. Also, the directors guild seek to constantly be frontiers in promoting and maintaining international standards in filmmaking in Nigeria. The currently serving president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria is Mr. Fred Amata.
Other notable trade unions in Nigeria include:
● The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.
● Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions.
● Non-Academic Staff Union.
● Nigeria Union of Journalists.
There are many more unions in Nigeria. These are just a few of the popular ones you need to be familiar with. It is important that you are a member of the trade union representing your profession or skills.
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