TRADE UNIONISM AND WORKER ALIENATION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR WELFARE AND POVERTY REDUCTION

Abstract

The degree to which trade unions‟ and workers‟ rights, interests and welfareare protected and advanced in any economy depends significantly on the existence, strength,power ,character and legitimacy of trade unionism as the voice of labour and instrument ofcollective bargaining and conflict resolution in the world of work. This paper attempted toperform a critical analysis of the major issues facing workers and trade unionism in Nigeria,and sought to show the underlying causes of worker alienation and poverty in Nigeria. Theobjectives of the study are to identify the industrial and labour relations issues facing workersand trade unionism in Nigeria; to ascertain the underlying causes of worker alienation,poverty and insecurity in Nigeria‟s work environment; and to examine the relationshipsamong collective bargaining, the promotion of workers‟ welfare and poverty reduction inNigeria. The study adopted the qualitative method as its methodology for data collectionthrough the use of secondary source, such as text books, journals, magazines, newspaperpublications, while content analysis was its method of data analysis. The conflict analyticalparadigm of Marxian and post Marxian schools of thought formed its theoretical framework.Interalia it found that the NLC and the other labour unions are often prevented fromrepresenting the interests of the Nigerian workers; trade unions in Nigeria are perceived bygovernments and other employers of labour as opposition and parallel forces and not giventhe opportunity to bargain freely for the workers. The study concluded that the NLC needs tostrategize the bargaining methods pertinent to coping with the enormous internal and externalchallenges of 21st century trade unionism, and to disentangle itself with a dogmaticideological disposition that best describes its present actions and character to end workeralienation and reduce poverty by promoting workers