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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 3/1998
Detained Nigerian oil workers' leaders Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori should be released without further delay. That was the personal call issued to Nigerian Head of State General Sani Abacha today by organisations representing more than 125 million trade unionists worldwide.
Still held without trial:
Nigerian oil workers' leaders Milton Dabibi (left) and Frank Kokori.
The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) issued their call to mark the second anniversary of Milton Dabibi's arrest (January 25 1996).
Frank Kokori, General Secretary of oil and gas workers' union NUPENG, and Milton Dabibi, General Secretary of oil and gas workers' union PENGASSAN, the oil industry's staff federation, are being held without charge or trial, and are being denied access to lawyers or to their unions. Both men are in poor health and are being denied medical attention. Both are recognised by Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience.
Last November, General Abacha announced that he would be releasing all detainees who were not a threat to public security. According to reports, not one single detainee has yet been released, as a secret list of potential releases is still in the hands of the Police Commissioner.
"We are calling on General Abacha to implement the promise he made last November and to release Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori without further delay," insisted ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe.
Next week in Amsterdam, the two detained Nigerian trade union leaders will be awarded the Febe Velasquez prize of the Dutch trade union confederation FNV, for their work in defence of trade union rights. Members of their families will receive the prize on their behalf.
The world trade union movement has been campaigning for the release of the Nigerian oil workers' leaders ever since they were arrested.
The ICFTU has pledged support for an ICEM call, backed by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), for targeted international trade union action against Nigerian oil exports unless Dabibi and Kokori are released without further delay.
Several international labour missions to Nigeria over recent years have pressed the military rulers to release Dabibi and Kokori and to end government intervention in the running of PENGASSAN, NUPENG and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The ICEM/ICFTU have submitted two complaints on Nigeria to the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO). World union, employer and government delegates to the ILO ruled that Nigeria is flouting international Conventions on basic trade union rights. Last December, the UN General Assembly expressed deep concern at "continuing grave violations of human and fundamental rights in Nigeria," and called for the "release of all political prisoners." Last October, Commonwealth heads of state decided to maintain Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth and threatened to bring in a boycott of Nigerian oil if the country is not returned to democratic rule by October 1998.
The ICFTU is to call for an ILO Commission of Enquiry on the trade union situation in Nigeria. If established, such a Commission would constitute a major political embarrassment for the ruling junta. The ICFTU is also contemplating sending a further mission to Nigeria later this year, and is calling on affiliated organisations around the world to step up their actions if Dabibi and Kokori are not released.