Role of Trade Union in Manpower Development (A Case Study of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC)
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study can be stated as follows:
- To highlight and justify the efficacy of the role of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in manpower development in Nigeria.
- To evaluate the contribution of Nigeria Labour Congress to Nigeria Economy.
- To identify the problems associated with Manpower Development in Nigeria.
- To know the impact of active unionism on the working condition of worker in Nigeria.
- To know if the operation of trade unionism affect the political stability of Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This paper is about the capacity of trade unions to intervene in a context of political and economic reform in the interests of their own members and in support of wider popular interests in society, including those of the poor. It focuses on the formation of a union-based labour regime as a key area of institutional reform, creating the conditions for such intervention. It begins by recalling the case against trade unions, why they are seen as an obstacle to reform and why they are expected to be marginalized in global development. In developing its case for seeing unions as important institutions of popular representation the paper offers an alternative reading of global tendencies, suggesting that unions are in fact on the rise. In turning to Africa, where this is assumed to be the least likely to happen, the paper points to great variations in union performance, including exceptional achievements in South Africa and repression and marginalization in Uganda. These two contrasting experiences are briefly summarized. The main empirical illustrations, however, are from Nigeria, our prime area of study, where the paper looks at the national union centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and, in particular, the textile workers’ union. The deregulation of labour markets is for some liberalizers a critical institutional reform which they claim will achieve many things for progress, not the least a reduction in poverty. Unions need to be rolled back because they stand in the way of labour mobility, flexibility, entrepreneurship and other desirable things which are good for development. Unemployment, for instance, can be radically reduced if the price of labour is allowed to be determined by individual contracts in a free market rather than through effective bargaining, which they see as a set of oligopolistic practices in price. The rights and freedoms of markets and individuals stand needs to the collectivistic, state regulated labour regimes that have tidied themselves in both rich and poor countries. Apart from theoretical ideological arguments, there seems to be strong pragmatic reasons for evaluation where regulation has already struck roots and for resisting Nation where it has not. Otherwise, increasingly mobile capital and entrepreneurship will run away. Existing labour market regulations, laws protecting union rights, make major national firms as well as Potential foreign investors look elsewhere and discourage small local entrepreneurs on whom poor people depend for employment and income. Logic of development seems therefore to be firmly on the side of the eiralisers and the deregulators. Even fainthearted governments, the captives of entrenched, recalcitrant union interests, find that in active labor markets liberalize themselves even within the framework of Sting pro-union regulation, as noted with satisfaction by Ulf Jacobson DO), a prominent Swedish economist. The latter are bypassed or diluted through the spontaneous liberalization of the labour market, which, in his help explains the unexpected capacity of the Swedish economy to see employment levels from the rock bottom levels of the early 1990s, and liberalizers have more reasons for disliking unions. They want to shift sources from the public sector to more productive uses in the private sector which presumably is in the interest of everyone but in particular of poor who will benefit from economic efficiency and growth generally, poor are also expected to benefit from a shift in spending within the sector itself, from low priority to high priority areas, targeting those effective or fierce markets are the least capable of offering effective solutions, for instance, public health and education for groups with special disadvantages, distinct from generalized subsidies benefiting everybody, even those could afford to pay the market costs. Public sector unions are seen as particular obstacle to such public sector reforms with their assumed tested interests in existing employment patterns and pay packages but generally are expected to be opposed to the reforms, representing wage earners and the assumed beneficiaries of current patterns of state spending.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework of this paper is geared towards having a proper understanding of the concept manpower development and also relate it to the concept development of manpower. Although both concept could be used interchangeably, it is important to allentuate that the concept manpower development could be defined as “ the existence of unskilled and or skilled humans that need training or retraining to perform specific last in society ”(ecipo 1989). Thus, manpower development could be seen as organizational specific. This is because it is largely a function of organizational manpower need or job specification. That is, it could be viewed as the adaptation of the human resources available in the country to the needs objectives and orientation of a given organization.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter shall discuss the data collection method, the description of the study population sample plan, research instrument, administration of data collection, instrument, limitation of the study and data coding and analytical procedures.
Research Design
In order to conduct a well planned and executed research work a research design is required. It is used by the researcher as a scheme of a blues print for data collection prior to the actual study. For the purpose of this research, the survey research is use which concerned with identifying real nature of problem and formulating relevant hypothesis to be used.
The success and failure of this research depends on the degree of facts gather during the data collection period. As a result, this data collection was not based only on questionnaire but rather face to face interviewed with employee and top management of the company was highly used. Basically both primary and secondary that will be gathered
Population of the Study
Population: this refers to the entire groups of people, events or things of interest that the researcher wishes to investigate.
The study of the population is drawn from all employee of the organization. A careful look is taken in all sectors of the organization e.g. the employees and the direct. In order to get the accurate population size of the organization. For the purpose of this research work, the researcher will base on 100.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULT
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the description of the result of data collection and discussion of findings. According to the questionnaire administered the table below gives a clear picture of the view of respondents.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This chapter includes summary of funding conclusions and recommendations in respect of the objectives of the study.
Summary of the Study
In the descriptive data in sections 3 (from 3.1 to 3.8) this study confirms that unions have been taking active part in education and training activities by stressing employers for making arrangements for workers training, training and skill building and education and organizing and making themselves arrangement for training and education. Therefore it is concluded that unions besides seeking benefits for their members under collective bargaining also take part in the activities of human resource development by exerting efforts for training and education for workers.
Conclusion of the Study
In the descriptive data in chapter three and four of this study confirms that unions have been taking active part in training activities by stressing employers for making arrangements for workers training, training and skill building and education and organizing and making themselves arrangement for training and education.
Therefore it is concluded that unions besides seeking benefits for their members under collective bargaining also take part in the activities of human resource development by exerting efforts for training and education of workers
Recommendation of the Study
Our general argument suggests that the consolidation of union-based labor regimes allows unions to play an active role in the reform process and in defending popular policy options and access to public services. In the Nigerian context, some unions which are directly affected by public sector reforms, as in the case of privatization of electric power supply, have been included on public committees. It reflects a government effort to secure acceptance for reforms which in the past could be expected to meet with strong union resistance. It remains to be seen if unions will have an effective input in the process or merely serve as hostages. The effective suppression or neutralizations of the national leadership during much of the 1990s have led to a discontinuation of earlier attempts by the NLC to make itself relevant in the context of reform. During much of the 1980s, the NLC produced its own policy platforms, like the ‘Workers’ Charter of Demands’ of 1980, in speeches at National Conferences, May Days and seminars, and commentaries to federal budgets and policy statements (Beckman 1995). The successful general strike over petrol prices in June 2000 was, of course, a show of resistance but it is likely to oblige the government to involve unions and other organizations in more serious dialogue over its reform programme. It creates a new scope for political bargaining where unions are likely to press their own demands in alliance with other civil society groups.
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