DFID white paper on development: comments from the Nigeria Labour Congress

UK white paper on international development

Making governance work for the poor

13 July 2006

The Nigeria Labour Congress welcomes the British government's commitment to keeping the promises to "make poverty history" made at the Gleneagles G8 summit a year ago. We want to see the G8 at St Petersburg make this a top priority, and we also want to see real commitment to trade justice.

As a country which has relatively recently emerged from dictatorship, we know how important good government is. Trade unions played a major part in the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, and the Nigeria Labour Congress continues to play that role - keeping governments honest and speaking out when things are not good. I had stressed the importance of good government to Prime Minister Tony Blair when we met him in the company of other world trade union leaders last summer ahead of the Gleneagles G8 summit.

We also welcome the British government's acceptance that unions and the rest of civil society need to be supported.

In addition, we welcome the support for public services. Again, it is public services, which can make sure that development assistance reaches the people who need it most. We want free education and free health care, and we have to end the neo-liberal doctrine that public services should be privatized.

Overall, the White Paper represents a positive response to the challenge to make poverty history. However, it remains a fundamental imperative for the British Government and the G8 to appreciate even more that a critical factor in sustainable development is to have fairer trade policies that will decisively address global trading imbalances. There is need for commitment to ensure that Africa, Nigeria inclusive, is guaranteed market access for both agricultural and value-added products in order to improve her share of world income and generate prosperity at home.

Notes

DFID White Paper: www.dfid.gov.uk/wp2006/default.asp