Trade Union amendment act 2005 and the entrenchment of industrial democracy in the Nigeria Public Service: An x-ray of the political undercurrent

Abstract

The Federal Government of Nigeria in 2005 amended some sections of the Trade Union Act referred to as “The Principal Act” 1996 to form the new Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005. The main objective of the new Act was the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria public service by giving workers the freedom to choose which union to belong and opportunity to form more central union organizations, thereby encouraging industrial democracy. It is on this note that this study examined the political underlying motive in enacting the new Act in relation to industrial democracy in Nigeria Public Service, the weaknesses and strength of the Act were examined. The study relied on the secondary method of data collection. The study concluded that the enactment of the Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 was politically motivated to give the government the much-needed space to implement certain policies and decisions that are comfortable for the government. The study then recommended that the government
should embark on nation-wide consultation with stakeholders to develop valid amendments in Trade Union Acts for the betterment of all and not for the exploitation of the masses.

Keywords: Trade Union Amendment Act, industrial democracy and Public service.