LERE OJEDOKUN, Abuja

The Trade Unions (Amendment) Act, earlier passed into law by the two chambers of the National Assembly, received presidential assent at the State House, Abuja shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In effect, trade unions in the country now have the right to form, register and belong to federations of trade unions of their choice other than the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

The new law also stipulates that membership of trade unions in the country would now be absolutely voluntary and that no employee could be forced to join any trade union or be victimised for refusing to join one.

Another feature of the new law is the listing of stringent conditions which must be met by trade unions and federations of trade unions in the country before a strike could be called.

Among the provisions are that "no person, trade union or employer shall take part in a strike or lock out or engage in any conduct in contemplation or furtherance of a strike or lock out."

The exemptions however are that "the person, trade union or employer is not engaged in the provision of essential services" and that "the strike or lock out concerns a dispute arising from a fundamental breach of contract of employment or collective agreement on the part of the employee, trade union or employer."

Others are that "the provisions for arbitration in Trade Disputes Act Cap 432, laws of the federation of Nigeria 1990 have first been complied with", and "in the case of an employee or trade union, a ballot has been conducted in accordance with the rules and constitution of all registered members voted to go on strike."

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, in a statement, explained that "the law specifically prohibits trade unions or registered federations of trade unions from compelling anyone to join any strike or in any manner whatsoever, prevent aircraft from flying or obstruct public highways, institutions or premises of any kind for the purpose of giving effect to a strike."

She said that "by the democratization of labour union activities in the country achieved by the new law which gives workers and employers the freedom to exercise their right to organise, Nigeria has discharged its international obligations in this regard."