Labor Union Education Since 1960

Abstract

Nigeria’s independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, did not stop either the momentum and interest in labor education or the ongoing general informal education against Communism. The University College at Ibadan (later called University of Ibadan) and its Extra-Mural Department continued to be relevant as agents of government in implementing its general education policy, as well as in continuing education programs. At the same time, other regional institutions such as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and other postindependent higher education institutions competed for resources and enrollment in their labor and industrial relations courses. However, the University College at Ibadan has been dominant in organizing courses within and outside its campus, and in enrolling more students for these courses. For instance, in 1962 it conducted a three-day industrial relations course in Kano for 17 labor unionists from 12 unions across Nigeria. In the same year, a member of the staff of the UCI gave a talk at Enugu on the “Problems of Industrial Relations in Nigeria.”1 In June 1964, the Extra-Mural Department conducted a 20-week industrial relations course for 40 workers at Port Harcourt.