THE MEDIA, DEMOCRACY AND TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

THE MEDIA, DEMOCRACY AND TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS Okafor, Godson Okwuchukwu (Ph.D) & Malizu, Chinonye Faith

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has, since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 been the platform for the Nigerian people to query government policies, actions and inaction, not only for the Nigerian working class, but the entire Nigerian peoples. There are, generally five major substantive issues which are at the heart of the workers’ quest in uniting. These issues include: wages and other material remuneration; working conditions; job security; working time and; respect and dignity. Trade unionism is the drive that quest for improvements in these substantive issues. Considering the situation of the Nigeria democratic government, trade unions as well as press freedom and media practice in Nigeria, this paper investigates the activities of the Trade Unions in Nigeria. It also examines the conditions of the media practice under Nigeria democracy vis-à-vis press freedom and fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and of the press. Keywords: Media, Democracy, Trade Unionism, Challenges, Prospects.