AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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menting the convention; however, at year’s end no further specific action had been
taken.
Forced or bonded labor by children is not prohibited specifically; however, there
were no reports of its use (see Section 6.c.).
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work.—The Labor Code establishes a minimum wage
for salaried workers of each class and category within the formal sector. The lowest
minimum wage is $33 (24,565 CFA) per month. Additional salary is granted for
each family member and for such working conditions as night shifts and required
travel. Minimum wages are not sufficient to provide a decent standard of living for
workers and their families. Government salaries are substantially in arrears. Most
households have multiple earners (largely in informal commerce) and rely on the extended
family for support.
The legal workweek is 40 hours with a minimum of one 24-hour rest period; however,
for certain occupations the Ministry of Labor authorizes longer workweeks of
up to 72 hours. There were no reports of violations.
The Labor Code also establishes occupational safety and health standards; however,
due to staff shortages, inspectors focus on safety violations only in the most
dangerous industries: mining; building; and manufacturing. Although generally satisfied
with the safety equipment provided by employers, citing in particular adequate
protection from radiation in the uranium mines, union workers are in many
cases not well informed of the risks posed by their jobs. Workers have the right to
remove themselves from hazardous conditions without fear of losing their jobs.
f. Trafficking in Persons.—The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons; while
in general there were no reports that persons were trafficked, to, from, through, or
within the country, there was anecdotal evidence that organized rings may victimize
young coastal girls who come to work as household helpers.
In August the Justice Minister stated that the Government intended to study the
issue of trafficking as part of the more comprehensive legal modernization effort
launched by a commission of legal experts. At year’s end, the study was ongoing;
no statistics were available regarding the extent of the problem.
NIGERIA
Nigeria is a federal republic composed of 36 states and a capital territory, with
an elected president and a bicameral legislature. On May 29, 1999 President
Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party was inaugurated to a 4-year
term after winning elections in February 1999 that were marred by fraud and irregularities
perpetrated by all contesting parties, but most observers agreed the elections
reflected the will of the majority of voters. These elections marked the end of
16 years of military-led regimes. On May 5, 1999, the Abubakar Government signed
into law a new Constitution based largely on the suspended 1979 Constitution; the
new Constitution entered into effect on May 29, 1999. The Constitution provides for
an independent judiciary; however, in practice the judicial branch remains susceptible
to executive and legislative branch pressure, is influenced by political leaders
at both the state and federal levels, and suffers from corruption and inefficiency.
The Federal Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is tasked with law enforcement. The Constitution
prohibits local and state police forces. Internal security is the duty of the
State Security Service (SSS). The SSS’s profile continued to decline under the
Obasanjo regime. Until the advent of the civilian administration in May 1999, special
paramilitary anticrime squads called ‘‘Rapid Response Teams’’ operated in every
state. Under Obasanjo the military personnel dispatched to these units returned to
their barracks, but the units remained intact in most states, staffed by regular policemen
and with a reduced role and a less menacing presence. The Obasanjo Government
lessened its reliance on the army to quell internal disorder and the degree
of civilian control over the Rapid Response Teams and the national police force improved
during the course of the year. Despite these new controls, members of the
security forces, including the police, anticrime squads, and the armed forces committed
numerous, serious human rights abuses.
The economy has declined for much of the last three decades. Most of the population
of approximately 120 million was rural and engaged in small-scale agriculture.
Agriculture accounted for less than 40 percent of gross domestic product but
employed more than 65 percent of the work force. The agriculture and manufacturing
sectors deteriorated considerably during the oil boom decades. The collapse
of market agriculture contributed significantly to the country’s urbanization and increased
unemployment. Although the great bulk of economic activity is outside the
formal sector, recorded gross domestic product per capita was $250. Much of the na-
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