NIGERIA LABOR MINISTER AND DELEGATION TO VISIT U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 001258 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL, AF/W DOL FOR SUDHA HALEY USAID FOR KIMBERLY LUDWIG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB EAID PGOV PHUM PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA LABOR MINISTER AND DELEGATION TO VISIT U.S. REF: A. ABUJA 1191 ¶B. ABUJA 1117 ¶C. ABUJA 821 ¶D. ABUJA 809 ¶1. (U) This cable contains an action request in para 6. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: Nigeria's Minister of Labor and Productivity Prince Adetokunbo Kayode and a delegation of high-level Nigerian labor sector officials will travel to the United States on July 25 for the Minister's first labor orientation trip since becoming Minister in December 2008. Mission Nigeria sees this visit as an opportunity for the USG to address Nigeria's currently fractured labor sector. The trip will also be an opportunity to address Nigeria's inability to pass and implement important child labor laws, as well as learn about USG policies and practices related to tripartite dialogue, employment and training, wage and hour compliance, labor conflict resolution, and labor legislation. END SUMMARY. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NIGERIA'S LABOR SECTOR: KEY ISSUES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) Since Adetokunbo Kayode became Minister of Labour and Productivity in December 2008, there have been more than seven strikes or threats of strikes in the education, aviation, textile, health, legal, petroleum, and transportation sectors. Kayode inherited some of these labor conflicts and is making efforts to address them. He inaugurated the Standing Committee on Government Labor Relations in March 2009 to deal with relations between government and Nigerian organized labor, and in April held a National Labor Summit to spur momentum for employment creation (reftel D). In May, Kayode announced that he had also set up a tripartite social dialogue to build consensus with all labor stakeholders. ¶4. (U) Despite the committees, summits, and national plans, the Minister's efforts have yet to produce any tangible results. The GON has moved no closer to resolving the strong ideological discord between government, organized labor, and the private sector. It has yet to respond to organized labor's present demands for increased minimum wage, cessation of downstream petroleum deregulation, and implementation of its electoral reform recommendations. Meanwhile, representatives of the private sector are highly critical both of the government and of organized labor for not embracing market liberalization as it slowly disassociates itself from the two bodies. So far, any efforts to prevent discord and discontent among tripartite stakeholders have been ad hoc and occur only after dialogue breaks down completely and protest rallies commence, (reftels A, B, and C). ¶5. (U) Nigeria has also been slow to act on important legislation. The GON has still not passed the National Policy on Child Labor or National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labor. The Ministry of Labor and Productivity, with assistance from the USG-funded ILO-IPEC LUTRENA Program, drafted in 2006 a Draft National Policy on Child Labor and a Draft National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labor. Despite the fact that both the policy and the action plan remain with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) awaiting approval, the Ministry reports that its provisions are being widely implemented. In addition, the Ministry of Labor decided to collaborate with the Child Development Department of Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Development to expand the action plan. Nonetheless, the Federal Government's best efforts to devise a national policy to combat the worst forms of child labor, has been hampered both by delays in passage within the FEC, and competition within the government for limited resources. Additional legislation is currently before the House of Representatives, which is aimed to solicit input from a ABUJA 00001258 002 OF 004 variety of stakeholders to shape the structure of Nigeria's triparte labor relationships. This legislation was also the result of USG assistance, which funded an ILO legal review in 2003 of Nigeria's labor laws. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ACTION REQUEST: VISIT ITINERARY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (U) Mission Nigeria requests Department assistance in supporting the delegation's visit, specifically coordinating the Labor Minister's meetings with high-level counterparts, where possible, at the Departments of State and Labor, USAID, and the U.S. Congress. In addition, we believe that a tour of a local "One-Stop Center" or other similar local job development center for which the delegation has expressed great interest, would be beneficial. (Note: The delegation will also be assisted in Washington by Ollie Anderson, President of Anderson International, LLC, and former U.S. Labor Attache in Lagos from 1987-89, who will coordinate the non-USG portion of the trip. End Note.) Possible meetings for the delegation include, but are not limited to the following: Department of Labor (ILAB, ETA, Wage and Hour, and Labor Statistics bureaus); Department of State (DRL and AF Bureaus); USAID (DCHA or AFR Bureaus); and U.S. Senate and House Chairmen (or members) of labor committees. - - - - - - - - THE DELEGATION - - - - - - - - ¶7. (U) Below are the names, biographies and interests of the visiting Nigerian labor delegation. Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode Minister of Labour and Productivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hon. Prince Adetokunbo Kayode was appointed as Nigeria's Minister of Labour and Productivity in December 2008. Prior to this appointment, he was Minister of Culture and Tourism at the inception President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Administration in 2007. Kayode was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 31, 1958, to the Ojere Ruling House of Ikaram-Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State. Kayode graduated with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) Degree from University of Lagos in 1981 and became a member of Nigeria's Bar Association in 1982. He also received a diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from Oxford University in 2003. He began his career in 1983 as an Associate and later Junior Partner with Orifunmishe and Company. From 1990 to 2007 he was Managing Partner of Kayode and Company. He served as a member of the Council of Legal Education, a member of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, member of the Presidential Committee on Democracy and Good Governance, and member of the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria. He was also part of Yar'Adua's legal team that successfully defended the 2007 Presidential election case at the Supreme Court. Minister Kayode expressed to LabOff on several occasions his keen interest in One-Stop Centers and other similar employment and training programs in the United States. His overall interest is in employment generation, peaceful and efficient conflict resolution mechanism and consensus building. Minister Kayode also expressed interest in exchanging ideas and information with high-level counterparts at DOL and DOS. Mr. Wilson Ake Senator in Nigerian National Assembly Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hon. Senator Ake is a member of the Senate of the National Assembly of Nigeria. Senator Ake was elected Senator to represent South West Senatorial district of Rivers State from 2004 to 2007 and re-elected in 2007 for another term of four ABUJA 00001258 003 OF 004 years. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity. His committee has the oversight function for Employment, Labour and Productivity activities in Nigeria. The Committee is presently involved in the review of Nigerian Labour Laws. Senator Ake was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003. He was the Deputy Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State from 1990-1991. Senator Ake was born on September 21, 1955 at Erema in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Senator Ake's interest on this trip includes labor legislation, meeting with U.S. legislators on labor committees, conflict resolution, and youth employment and skills development, particularly vocational education and training. Mr. Ado Dogo Audu Representative in Nigerian National Assembly House Committee Chairman on Employment, Labour and Productivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hon. Ado Dogo Audu is a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing Jamaa Sanga Area of Kaduna State. He was first elected to the house in 1999 and has been re-elected in 2003 and 2007. He is currently the chairman of Nigeria's House Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity. He was born on February 24, 1964, in Jamaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Hon. Audu's interests include labor legislation, meeting with U.S. legislators on Senate and House Labor Committees, conflict resolution, social security, conflict resolution, and international labor issues. Mr. John A. Olanrewaju Director General Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Olanrewaju is the Director General of MINILS, a GON agency responsible for worker education and training in Nigeria to develop the negotiation and leadership skills of GON's tripartite stakeholders. Since 2003, Olanrewaju has coordinated the Industrial Relations Partnership Initiative (IRPI) between the Nigerian and American organized labor, which has led to highly useful exchanges between MINILS in Nigeria, and the National Labor College in Maryland as well as the New Initiative Community Development Corporation (NCDC) in Washington, DC. The IRPI program is being facilitated with the support of U.S. Mission Nigeria's Labor Attach. Over 100 Nigerians have benefited from these exchange programs to the United States under the IRPI program. Olanrewaju holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Science in Development Studies. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Organizational Management at Capella University Minneapolis, MN. Olanrewaju was born on November 20, 1960 at Isanlu in Kogi State of Nigeria. Olanrewaju is the principle coordinator of this visiting delegation and will accompany the Labor Minister in all of his meetings. Olanrewaju's own interests include promoting international best practices in labor and management relations and facilitating comparative studies in labor education. Mr. Paul Mari Bdliva, PhD Director General, National Productivity Centre (NPC) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Before joining the NPC, Paul Mari Bdliya was a Senior Lecturer with the University of Maiduguri in Borno State. Bdliya received his Bachelor of Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1979 and M.Sc. and PhD in Agronomy from Iowa State University in 1984 and 1987, respectively. Bdliya was born on June 13, 1953, in Marama, Borno State Nigeria. Bdliva expressed interest to meet with USDOL's Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics to discuss capacity building on labor productivity measurement, also the focus for his July 2008 visit to the George Meany Institute of Labour ABUJA 00001258 004 OF 004 Studies in Maryland. Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed was appointed as the CEO and Director General of the NDE in December 2008, where he has been employed for over twenty years. Mohammed has helped the NDE to address youth unemployment and implement vocational skills development training. He is also responsible for leading Nigeria's broader job creation efforts as promised by the Minster of Labor and Productivity in Nigeria's National Employment Summit in January. Mohammed received his bachelor's degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Master's degree in Development Studies from The Hague, Netherlands. He was born on January 25, 1952 in Katsina State, Nigeria. Mohammed has expressed interest in learning about USG efforts to deal with the current unemployment crisis and any models he can replicate in Nigeria upon his return. Mr. Adesoji Adesugba Technical Assistant to the Minister of Labour and Productivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Adesugba is currently seconded to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission in Nigeria, where he is Director of Investment Promotion. Mr. Adesugba holds a B.Sc, LLB, M.Sc (Investment Promotion and Economic Development). He was born on May 27, 1959 in Lagos, Lagos State. Mr. Adesugba will accompany the Minister on this trip as his Technical Assistant to cover secretariat and other logistic arrangement during the trip. Mr. John Ademola Kolawole Secretary General, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Kolawole is currently the Secretary General of on of Nigeria's largest union consortiums, with considerable influence within the petroleum sector, since 2003. Before his tenure with the TUC, he was Vice Chairman of Ojo Local Government in Lagos State from 1991-2003. From 1986 to 1990, Kolawole was General Secretary for the Precision, Electrical, and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESS). Kolawole was also an Assistant Labor Inspector and Labor Officer in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity for over a decade, from 1975 to 1986. Kolawole has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos; a Certificate in Industrial Relations and Trade Unionism from the University of Ibadan; and a Diploma in Cooperative and Labour Studies from the Histdrundt International Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel. Kolawole was born on March 15, 1948 in Oka Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. His interests include labor management and administration, conflict resolution, social dialogue, and economic development. Mr. Sule Adisa Adewolu Chairman, Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Adewolu was appointed chairman of the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) in 2005, which is in charge of tripartite dispute settlement and conflict resolution. He is also a Barrister and Solicitor of Nigeria's Supreme court, and was a former Attorney General and Commissioner in Ogun State. Adewolu was born on June 2, 1945 in Ogun State. His interests include mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. ¶8. (U) This cable was coordinated with U.S. Consulate Lagos. SANDERS