Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 307, June 1997

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 33. During its examination of this case in June 1996, the Committee had urged the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that Mr. Kokori, General Secretary of NUPENG, was released immediately, that Decrees Nos. 9 and 10, dissolving the Executive Council of the NLC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, were repealed immediately and to allow independently elected officials to exercise their trade union functions once again (see 304th Report, para. 13). In view of the absence of the Government's response for the Committee's report of November 1996, the Governing Body had decided to address an urgent appeal to the Government of Nigeria, inviting it to reply as soon as possible to all the requests made since November 1995 with a view to authorizing an ILO mission to examine issues dealt with in the various complaints and to visit detained trade union leaders without hindrance, thus allowing the mission to present its report to the Committee as soon as possible. A communication in this regard had been sent to the Government on 26 November 1996 and then a reminder had been addressed to it on 5 February 1997.
2. 34. In February 1997, the Committee took note of several new decrees and texts which appeared to indicate an expansive and systematic approach to diminishing trade union rights in Nigeria. Noting with ever-increasing concern the persistent deterioration of trade union rights in Nigeria, the Committee had reiterated, in the strongest terms, the Governing Body's appeal to the Government to accept an ILO mission at the earliest possible date to examine the outstanding matters of this case.
3. 35. The Committee must once again note with deep regret that in spite of the assurances given during the last session of the Governing Body, the Government has not for the moment given any written reply to the requests of the Committee and the Governing Body or to the communications addressed by the Office on 1 April and 16 May 1997. The Committee notes, however, that the Ministry of Labour has indicated to the ILO office in Lagos that it is willing to receive a mission but that this would not be possible during the period preceding the International Labour Conference. In these conditions, the Committee strongly reiterates its request for a mission to examine issues raised in the case and in particular to visit detained trade union leaders. It urges the Government to respond positively to this request without any further delay.