In the government's 1999 budget, steps toward privatization of the petroleum, energy, and telecommunications were promised. However, incidents of civil strife have decreased from their 1993 and 1994 levels. Under Nigerian law, any non-agricultural enterprise that employs more than 50 persons must recognize trade unions and pay or deduct dues for union members. In the past, the government has threatened to withdraw the dues checkoff provision and make union dues voluntary if unions pursue strikes. The Abubakar administration accepted an ILO fact-finding mission and took other steps to correct the abuses that led to ILO censure during the Abacha regime.
Collective bargaining is common in many sectors of the economy.
Nigerian law protects workers from retaliation by employers for labor activity through an independent arm of the judiciary, the Nigerian Industrial Court. Trade unionists have complained, however, that the judicial system's slow handling of labor cases constitutes a denial of redress. The government retain broad authority over labor matters, and can intervene forcefully in disputes it feels challenge political or economic objectives. Union to force an end to their strike, and in 1994, it dismissed the executive councils of the NLC and the two leading petroleum sector unions. The Abubakar administration returned these bodies to direct union control in 1998.