Nigeria: Lawyers boycott courts
Nigerian lawyers are expected to boycott the courts on 18 May 2007. This was the resolution adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its meeting of 11 May 2007. The boycott is to register the displeasure of the Association over several irregularities during the elections, which led to effective disenfranchisement of large sections of the electorates at the April 14 and 21 general elections in Nigeria.
Nigerian lawyers are expected to boycott the courts on 18 May 2007. This was the resolution adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its meeting of 11 May 2007. The boycott is to register the displeasure of the Association over several irregularities during the elections, which led to effective disenfranchisement of large sections of the electorates at the April 14 and 21 general elections in Nigeria. Based on the said elections, Nigeria can be called a one-party state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which controls the central government 'won' the elections in majority of the 36 states of the Federation. It also 'won' majority of the seats in the Bi-cameral National Legislature.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the major central labour organisation in the country has rejected an invitation by the Federal Government to participate in a committee to arrange the swearing-in of a new President on 29 May. The Congress has issued threats of mass action to protest the controversial elections as well as demand the implementation of a new salary structure, which is based mainly on 15% increase on basic pay.