Nigeria Labor Congress
The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) is an umbrella organization for trade unions in Nigeria . It was founded in 1978 as a result of the merger of four different organizations: Nigeria Trade Union Congress (NTUC), Labor Unity Front (LUF), United Labor Congress (ULC) and Nigeria Workers Council (NWC). The various affiliated unions have been reorganized into 42 industrial unions.
During its history, conflicts with the military government led to the dissolution of the national organs of the NLC twice, the first under the Ibrahim Babangida regime in 1988, the second in 1994 under Sani Abacha . During the military dictatorships, labor leaders were regularly arrested and union meetings disbanded. After democratic reforms were implemented, some restrictions on trade unions were lifted in January 1999 . In the same month, Adams Oshiomhole was elected chairman of the reformed organization.
Today 29 unions are affiliated to the NLC. According to its own information, the union has four million members. That makes the NLC one of the strongest unions in Africa.
The current conflict between the government and the NLC escalated when the union opposed increases in gasoline prices. The price increases are the result of decisions by the Olusegun Obasanjo government to drastically cut subsidies and deregulate gasoline trading. The NLC has called several general strikes to protest the government's pricing policy, during which NLC Chairman Oshiomole was temporarily arrested.
Internal criticism of the NLC was voiced by women because the union prevented women from organizing independently within the NLC. There were also allegations against Oshiomole for allegedly cooperating with the dictator Abacha.