NIGERIA: 2007 STRIKE INDICATIVE OF NEW PARADIGM?

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PREL PHUM ENRG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: 2007 STRIKE INDICATIVE OF NEW PARADIGM?

REF: A. ABUJA 1342

B. ABUJA 1326

C. ABUJA 1319

D. ABUJA 1317

E. ABUJA 1303

F. ABUJA 1302

G. ABUJA 1294

H. ABUJA 1278

I. ABUJA 1155

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Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. The 2007 national labor strike (reftels)
differed in some significant ways from other Nigerian
national labor strikes. In particular, the 2007 strike was
well-managed within the labor movement, was non-violent and
resulted in a win-win agreement between the government and
the labor federations in which neither side feels aggrieved.
Several factors converged to make this strike different -- a
new (and truly civilian) president, a strong sense of unity
and cooperation between the labor federations, and a sense of
public frustration following the 2007 elections which needed
a release valve. As a result, the outlook for the GON/labor
relationship and for the labor movement internally appears to
be a good one headed into the initial months of the Yar'adua
presidency. The strike may have, in a single event, served
to consolidate labor unity, enabling the federations and
their member unions to begin to overcome the obstacles to
labor's influence erected by former President Obasanjo.
Whether the handling of the strike represents a paradigm
shift in Nigerian governance and a "servant-leader" role for
the presidency remains to be seen; however, the initial
indications are positive for the labor movement. END SUMMARY.

2007 STRIKE - A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR
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2. (C) According to Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) General
Secre tary John Odah, participation in the 2007 strike was
higher than in other previous national strikes. Post
believes the high level of participation is likely due to two
important factors which converged in this strike. Firstly,
the NLC and its sister federation the Trade Union Congress
(TUC),under the new leadership of Abdulwaheed Omar and Peter
Esele, respectively, have worked to promote cooperation and
unity between the two federations. While it seems there are
areas of clear confluence of interest between the two
federations, the predominantly blue-collar NLC and
white-collar TUC have not historically coordinated their
activities well. The 2007 May Day celebrations across
Nigeria were actually the first time the two federations
coordinated May Day activities. The second important factor
influencing participation is the level of frustration felt by
the general populace following the 2007 elections. The
strike provided a peaceful avenue for venting frustration
with the former Obasanjo administration, focusing, in
particular, on Obasanjo's decision to raise fuel prices in
the last days of his term.


3. (C) Another significant difference between the 2007 strike
and previous national strikes was the virtually complete lack
of violence associated with the 2007 strike. Solidarity
Center Assistant Country Program Director Benedict Edherue
told Poloff the strike occurred without violence because
Yar'adua reacted differently than Obasanjo and the other
military presidents have reacted in the past. Edherue
pointed out that previous presidents (both military and
Obasanjo in his later revival as a civilian leader) ordered
security force involvement early in the strike. The
involvement of security forces upped the ante and peaceful
gatherings quickly escalated -- with tear gassing quickly
turning to violent reprisals from both sides. He maintains
that Yar'adua's inauguration marked the true beginning of the

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Nigerian transition from military to civilian rule.


4. (C) This different leadership style is the crux of the
third major difference between the 2007 strike and previous
strikes. The 2007 strike ended in a win-win agreement in
which neither side left the table with ill feelings or bile.
NLC Secretary General John Odah contrasted Yar'adua and
Obasanjo's styles in dealing with labor negotiations in a
meeting with Poloff on June 26. He pointed to Obasanjo's
call to TUC President Esele on May 25, simply telling him to
call off the strike (Ref. I) and contrasted that with
Yar'adua's involvement in the last day of negotiations --
which he solely credited with resolving the deadlock. Odah
described Yar'adua's style as more egalitarian, recognizing
the interests of the labor representatives at the table.
Obasanjo, on the other hand, he noted, asserted his authority
over the situation by belittling those across the table and
pronouncing the terms of the agreement.

IMPACT OF THE STRIKE - LOOKING FORWARD
--------------


5. (C) Within the Nigerian labor movement, the strike may
prove to be among the more significant unifying and
empowering events since independence. The strength drawn
from the unified front of the NLC and TUC in this strike has
demonstrated the potential to begin to overcome obstacles to
labor's influence erected by Obasanjo in his military and
later his civilian terms. During Obasanjo's military term,
he devised the current dual system of trade unions, with
employees split into predominantly white-collar or
blue-collar unions. With two unions, two sets of management,
and two sometimes competing sets of priorities, the system
undermined the strength of unions in any given industry.
During his civilian administration, the 2005 Trade Union
Amendment Act removed NLC as the single, mandated trade union
federation. With TUC now representing white-collar unions
and NLC representing blue-collar, the former national
influence of the NLC seemed lost. In addition, the 2005 Act
prohibited strikes over "matters of national economic
policy," such as the fuel price. The cohesion of the NLC and
TUC in the 2007 strike, as well as the decision by the
government to allow a national strike over petroleum pricing
(a clear national economic policy matter),may well mark a
new emergence of labor as a political force in Nigerian
politics.


6. (C) NLC's John Odah was hopeful that the strike and its
resolution mark the beginning of a new relationship between
the GON and labor. Though his comments to Poloff regarding
the outlook for labor's relationship with Secretary of the
Government Babagana Kingibe were less than encouraging, he
was hopeful for a strong relationship with Yar'adua and the
new National Assembly. (NOTE: Odah told Poloff that Kingibe
is "well-informed," but at the same time cautioned that labor
will "have to be on its guard in dealing with him.") Odah
noted positive engagement by new Senate President David Mark
and Speaker of the House Patricia Etteh, who visited labor
with a group of Senators and Congressmen to urge dialog and
compromise. Odah was hopeful that much of the old
game-playing may be coming to an end. He described Yar'adua
as "not playing to the gallery" and "wanting to carve a niche
for himself."


7. (C) COMMENT. Yar'adua has billed himself as a
"servant-leader" and spoken publicly about a new leadership
style for Nigeria. Whether the handling of the 2007 strike
is indicative of just such a paradigm shift in the GON or not
remains to be seen. With Yar'adua's cabinet still to be
named, the attitude of the new Minister of Labor and others
within the administration toward a potentially stronger
labor/government relationship remains unclear. What is
clear, however, is that the change in leadership in the

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presidency brought about a change in the conduct and outcome
of this strike that few could have predicted in its early
days. END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL