Niger

Presidenten lovar undersöka.

Fria fackföreningsinternationalen FFI (ICFTU) 970428: Presidenten lovar undersöka. Hur har de 24 fängslade fackliga ledarna det?

Nigerian President Ibrahim Barre Mainassara has promised to examine the situation of the 24 trade unionists currently held in prison in Niger and has promised "a gesture" before May 1.

Mr. Mainassara's made his promise at a meeting on April 26 with the General Secretary of the ICFTU's African Regional Organisation, Andrew Kailembo. Mr. Kailembo arrived in Niamey on April 25, as the National Workers' Union of Niger (USTN) ended its three-day general strike, the seventh since the end of February, and was able to visit several of the detained trade unionists, 30km from the capital. He also had meetings with the USTN leadership and met the Minister of Justice to demand the release of the imprisoned trade unionists.

Since the end of February, the USTN, which represents 40,000 workers, has called seven general strikes to demand the payment of wage arrears, now amounting to five months in the public service, and an end to the government's privatisation programme. It was during these strikes that the 24 trade union activists were arrested. Four of them have been given prison sentences ranging from two months to two years for "sabotage". Among the other detainees is Maman Mansour Dado, Assistant General Secretary of the USTN.

So far the trade union demands have not been met. The ICFTU has approached the government several times to call for the opening of negotiations with the national trade union centre,and in a message to President Mainassara has urged that all the trade unionists arrested for going on strike be released.
The AFRO General Secretary's visit comes just before the organisation's Congress, to be held in Dakar from May 15 to 17. Maman Dado Mansour was due to attend as a member of the Niger delegation.

For details contact ICFTU Press at +32 (2) 224 02 12 or AFRO in Nairobi, tel:+254 224 43 35.