VZCZCXRO0707
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0821/01 1281400
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081400Z MAY 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5975
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0275
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1881
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0830
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1287
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000821 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DRL, AF/W 
PLEASE PASS USTR FOR AGAMA 
DOL FOR SUDHA HALEY 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS 
TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS 
BAGHDAD FOR DUNDAS MCCULLOUGH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PREL PHUM ENRG ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: LABOR LEADERS CRITICIZE GON, ANNOUNCE 
PROTEST CAMPAIGN IN MAY DAY RALLY 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the 
Trade Union Congress (TUC) jointly organized a 2009 National 
May Day rally on May 1 in Abuja, which included organized 
labor representatives from across the country, as well as a 
small contingent of high-level government officials.  The 
day's harsh criticism of the GON reflected broader disdain 
for the GON's inaction on the litany of issues important to 
organized labor, but also indicated the long and difficult 
road that the Labor Minister will have to travel to earn the 
confidence and support necessary for many of his new 
initiatives.  The NLC and TUC will stage a series of major 
protests over the next two months in five cities to condemn 
the GON's failure on electoral reform, deregulation of the 
petroleum sector, and inaction on a new minimum wage.  End 
Summary. 
 
MAY DAY, MAY DAY! 
- - - - - - - - - 
¶2. (U) On May 1, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the 
Trade Union Congress (TUC) jointly organized a 2009 National 
May Day rally in Abuja.  Unlike his predecessor, President 
Umaru Yar'Adua has not attended this annual event, and a 
number of GON representatives who have attended such rallies 
in the past were also absent.  The Minister of Labor and 
Productivity Prince Adetokunbo Kayode represented the 
President, but Nigerian Labour Congress President Abdulwaheed 
Ibrahim Omar dominated the podium with a 16-page list of 
grievances and indictments against the GON.  Conversely, 
Kayode was booed before, during, and after his formal remarks 
while he called for unity and harmony between government and 
labor. 
 
NLC LETS IT ALL OUT 
- - - - - - - - - - 
¶3. (U) Omar's grievances against the GON focused on wages, 
employment conditions, the global economy, deregulation and 
privatization, transparency and corruption, refineries, rail 
transport, labor legislation, pensions, electoral reform, and 
European Economic Partnership Agreements.  He repeated 
previous hyperbolic NLC warnings of the catastrophic 
consequences of unregulated privatization in the downstream 
petroleum sector, such as drastic unemployment, higher fuel 
costs, lower wages, and the beginning of the end of organized 
labor.  His comments on corruption were also similar to past 
remarks -- criticizing the EFCC for its ineffectual progress 
on prosecuting and punishing guilty public officials. 
 
¶4. (U) It was Omar's remarks on electoral reform, however, 
that drew the most notable reaction.  Omar described the 
current political landscape as "Nigeria's biggest crisis, 
largely responsible for almost every major disaster in the 
country."  He stressed the importance of creating a level 
playing field for all political interests, free from big 
money, political godfathers, gender identity, ethnicity, and 
other "primitive" concerns.  Omar also lambasted the 
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 
specifically its Chairman, Maurice Iwu, for its "shameful" 
role in corrupting the 2007 electoral process.  After Omar's 
protracted critique of Nigerian politics, he promised to 
organize massive protests soon "until genuine electoral 
reforms are met" and urged all Nigerians to prepare 
themselves to "resist bad rulers, bad government policies, 
and bad government decisions." 
 
¶6. (U) The USG was not spared from Omar's tirade.  Omar urged 
the USG to begin paying for "the ecological damage that U.S. 
companies created in Third World countries from pollution and 
over-exploitation of resources." He also called for the Obama 
Administration not to be distracted by "extreme right wing 
interests who believe that life is only worth living when all 
 
ABUJA 00000821  002 OF 002 
 
 
of those living under the American Empire are on their 
knees."  Most of Omar's remarks, however, were optimistic and 
supported President Obama, specifically his attention to 
global warming and latest outreach efforts to Iran, Cuba, and 
Venezuela.  (Note:  Organized labor has also been very 
cooperative with U.S. Mission Nigeria and on many occasions 
expressed gratitude for our interest in labor issues.  End 
Note.) 
 
NLC CONFIRMS PROTEST MARCHES IN FIVE CITIES 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶5. (SBU) According to NLC and TUC leadership, the May Day 
rally marks the beginning of a series of protests planned to 
take place across the country over the next two months, which 
will raise the entire spectrum of labor's grievances.  NLC 
General Secretary John Odah told LabOff on May 7 that 
protests have been scheduled in four states:  Lagos on May 
13; Delta on May 15; Kano on May 19; and Maiduguri on May 21. 
 Odah also confirmed a June protest scheduled for Abuja, but 
could not yet specify the exact date.  Odah said the protests 
will include not just organized labor, but also several civil 
society organizations and NGOs.  He said that the marches 
will be on city streets, which he warned will stop traffic 
flow and normal daily activity.  Odah also predicted that the 
GON will try to stop the protests, but expressed confidence 
that its attempt to do so will fail.  (Note:  Post will 
continue to monitor the situation closely and report details 
septel.  End Note.) 
 
TOUGH CROWD FOR THE LABOR MINISTER 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶7. (U) Labor and Productivity Minister Kayode, who delivered 
President Yar'Adua's May Day address, was booed by thousands 
of NLC and TUC members before, during, and after his 
presentation.  (Note:  Several union representatives also 
expressed dissatisfaction with Yar'Adua's absence for the 
second year in a row, as well as at the dwindling presence of 
GON representatives.  End Note.)  Kayode conveyed the GON's 
"desire for peaceful relations" with organized labor, 
declaring that "government needs to work together (with 
labor) in an atmosphere that is devoid of rancor."  He also 
insisted that organized labor should "not only partner with 
government, but also accept responsibilities along with 
government to create a new Nigeria anchored on social 
justice, due process and the rule of law." 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment:  Since Adetokunbo Kayode took over as Labor 
Minister in December 2008, he quickly set up a Standing 
Committee on Government and Labor Relations, created 
Nigeria's first National Employment Summit, and contributed 
to the development of seven new labor laws.  Throughout his 
remarks, Kayode touted the positive and harmonious 
relationship that Yar'Adua and the Labor Ministry, under his 
leadership, strongly desire.  The tenor of Omar's remarks 
suggests, however, that Kayode has a ways to go to impress 
his labor interlocutors, who are looking for more tangible 
results from him and others in the GON to address their 
concerns with more than nice words.  Like the May Day crowd's 
response to Kayode's remarks, the GON is pushing against a 
swelling wave of criticism and discontent every time its 
promises are followed by inaction.  End Comment. 
 
¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by Consulate Lagos. 
SANDERS