International campaign to free Nigerian unionists
The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions launched a campaign of "targeted action" on October 20 against Nigerian oil exports to win the release of detained trade unionists. The ICEM represents more than 20 million workers throughout the world.
The actions call for the freeing of Milton Dabibi, general secretary of the ICEM-affiliated Nigerian oil and gas workers' union PENGASSAN, and Frank Kokori, general secretary of the ICEM-affiliated Nigerian oil and gas workers' union NUPENG.
Dabibi and Kokori are being detained without charge by the military regime. Both are in poor health, and are being denied medical attention as well as access to lawyers and to their trade unions. Visits by their families are severely restricted.
Kokori has been in detention since 1994 and Dabibi since January 1996. Their trade unions have been subjected to government intervention ever since the oil workers' strike of 1994. Both men are recognised by Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience.
"The ICEM has now served notice that it will take action — without further warning — against the delivery of selected Nigerian oil exports worldwide. This notice will remain in force until Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori are released", the ICEM declared.
The ICEM and the Commonwealth Trade Union Council have called upon Commonwealth leaders attending the October 24-27 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh to continue Nigeria's suspension from membership of the Commonwealth until full trade union rights and democracy are restored and union leaders released. The ICEM, CTUC and the Scottish Trades Union Congress will demonstrate outside CHOGM on October 25.