Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Nigeria (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee refers to its general observation and notes that the Government's report has not been received. The Committee's earlier comments addressed the following matters.

Article 1(1) and Article 2(1) of the Convention. The Committee requested information as to the freedom of certain persons to leave the service of the State. It noted the restrictions on such freedom which might be imposed on: (i) police officers, under sections 11(A), 13(1A), 13(9), 51(2) and 52 of the Police Act; (ii) navy personnel, under section 9(3) of the Navy Act and section 20(3) of Act No. 21 of 1964 (Navy); and (iii) army personnel, under sections 13 and 25 of the Nigerian Army Act of 1960. The Committee again refers to the explanations in paragraphs 67-73 of its 1979 General Survey on the abolition of forced labour, as to the essentially voluntary nature of employment which is to be in compliance with the Convention, subject only to the limited exceptions allowed under Article 2(2). It again requests the Government to provide copies of any regulations dealing with the manner in which the above provisions are applied and to indicate in detail how they are applied in practice, including numbers and circumstances of applications to leave the service allowed or refused.

Article 2(2)(c). The Committee asked the Government to indicate the conditions in which prison labour takes place, particularly as regards hiring prison labour to or placing it at the disposal of private parties. Please provide a copy of the current prison regulations as well as information on the practical aspects of this question.