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DE RUEHUJA #1212/01 1811501
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O 301501Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6457
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1976
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0935
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1598
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
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RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001212 
 
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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PREL PHUM ENRG ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: LABOFF CONVEYS IMPORTANCE OF TRIPARTITE 
DIALOGUE AMID UNION'S ANTI-GON CRITICISM 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  LabOff was a "Guest of Honor" for the Food, 
Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association's (FOBTOB) 
11th Annual National Delegates Conference in Jos, Plateau 
State, on May 30.  As one of Nigeria's largest private sector 
trade unions, FOBTOB used its annual Delegates Conference as 
an opportunity both to point out the harmful effects of the 
global economic recession as well as widen organized labor's 
harsh criticism against the GON for its failure to address 
several national issues, including trade liberalization, 
minimum wage, electoral reform, corruption, and the Niger 
Delta crisis.  LabOff described our support for job growth, 
trade and investment support, and the need for a functioning 
tripartite dialogue in Nigeria, which drew praise from union 
leadership and other members of the more than 300 conference 
participants.   End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) FOBTOB President Gabriel Babalola presided over the 
11th Annual National Delegates Conference in Jos on May 30, 
which included LabOff as a "Guest of Honor" and more than 300 
labor union leaders and members from the food, beverage, and 
tobacco industries.  Babalola made it immediately clear that 
they are feeling the pain of the global economic downturn, 
specifically large scale layoffs in more than 18 companies 
and the complete shut down of five other corporations in the 
food and beverage industry.  He also used the conference to 
slam the GON's trade liberalization policies, which he 
condemned for "dumping foreign products in the country, 
widespread unemployment, and weakened worker protections." 
Babalola reiterated the NLC's and TUC's public demands for a 
higher minimum wage, accusing the GON elites of "plundering 
the economy" through "parasitic, avaricious and 
self-centered" corruption.  Babalola also discussed the GON's 
electoral reform policies, which he characterized as "unable 
to confer confidence and legitimacy."  Finally, Babalola 
called on the GON to resolve the Niger Delta crisis via 
amnesty, echoing the pleas of his petroleum union colleagues 
who are affected most by the conflict, and demanding more 
security for their workers in the region. 
 
¶3. (U) LabOff delivered remarks which conveyed Mission 
Nigeria's efforts to support job growth, trade and 
investment, as well as the USG's support worldwide for ILO 
efforts to encourage tripartite dialogues (which include 
management, labor and government), and the need for such a 
functioning dialogue in Nigeria.  He specifically pointed out 
Mission Nigeria's commitment to its Framework for Partnership 
with the people and government of Nigeria, highlighting trade 
policies, agricultural programs, and training, which has 
resulted in more than 58,000 jobs across the country.  LabOff 
also recognized the contributions of organized labor and its 
role in promoting decent and productive work in conditions of 
freedom, equality, and dignity.  LabOff's remarks pointing 
out the utility of a structured, sustainable, and meaningful 
tripartite dialogue--mainly to find tangible solutions to 
Nigeria's most pressing labor issues--drew loud applause and 
later praise from several labor leaders and members in the 
audience.  Ladi Iliya, NLC Vice President and Chair of the 
National Women Commission, specifically praised the remarks 
as "capturing the essence of the conference" and later told 
LabOff that "the appointment of 'Sister' Hilda Solis as Labor 
Secretary is a timely event that is going to make our 
movement proud." 
 
¶4. (U) Comment:  The Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff 
Association (FOBTOB) is a major trade union affiliate, with 
56 branches throughout the country.  It was clear from FOBTOB 
President Gabriel Babalola's remarks that they were looking 
to widen organized labor's call for the GON to raise the 
minimum wage, as well as address other national priority 
issues such as electoral reform, corruption, and the Niger 
Delta.  It was also clear from Babalola's remarks that 
despite Nigeria's weakened economic state, FOBTOB shares an 
excellent working relationship with the industry and several 
 
ABUJA 00001212  002 OF 002 
 
 
corporate Managing Directors in particular with whom it has 
amicably negotiated important labor issues in the past, such 
as working conditions and job protection.  While this 
cooperation could provide a model for effective dialogue, 
FOBTOB's relationship with the GON is not nearly so 
collegial, being characterized by the GON's unresponsiveness 
to labor union concerns.  End Comment. 
 
¶5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
SANDERS