Adams Oshiomhole

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Adams Oshiomhole, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (right) with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Howard F. Jeter (center), July 5, 2002, Lagos.

Adams Oshiomhole is the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and a major figure in Nigerian politics, often regarded as the unofficial leader of the opposition in that country. Oshiomhole has risen to prominence recently as the leader of a campaign of industrial action against high oil prices in Nigeria.

Oshimhole began his career as a shop steward in a textile factory. He studied labour, economics and industrial relations at Ruskin College in Oxford in the UK and attended Nigeria's prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

Known for his charismatic style and devotion to union matters, he was elected president of the NLC in January 1999, at the same time as democratic reforms were repealing anti-union legislation. His stated aim was to strengthen the labour movement and bring together unions that had previously worked at cross purposes. He was re-elected in 2002.

Previously considered an ally of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Oshiomhole negotiated a public sector wage increase of 25 per cent, and later endorsed Obasanjo in the presidential election of 2003. Their relationship has soured, however, with the advent of Nigeria's oil crisis, in which the government has moved to cut subsidies on fuel as part of its deregulation of the oil industry.

Public opinion in Nigeria is resentful of the government's perceived mismanagement of the country's oil reserves, and sees cheap fuel as the only benefit. The possibility that this might end is a driving force behind moves for general strikes against the government. Oshiomhole has proved a popular leader in this campaign. The NLC alleges that on 9 October 2004 he was abducted by State Security Services during a protest, but the Nigerian government say he submitted to voluntary custody.

[edit] Edo State Governor

On March 20, 2008, an Edo State election tribunal nullified the election of Oserheimen Osunbor (PDP) and declared Oshiomhole of the Action Congress as the winner. The decision was based on several voting irregularities^[1].