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By Bimbola Oyesola
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been thrown into mourning following the death of its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, at the age of 60.
The veteran trade unionist and lawyer died after a protracted illness, with news of his passing conveyed to members of the Congress’ National Executive Council (NEC) during a meeting in Enugu on Thursday.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced Ugboaja’s death to the NEC, reportedly reading a letter from the late labour leader’s family informing delegates of his passing.
Ugboaja’s death removes one of the most experienced hands from Nigeria’s organised labour movement after more than three decades of trade union and civil society activism.
He became the fifth General Secretary of the NLC in August 2019, succeeding Peter Ozo-Eson after the Congress’ NEC ratified his appointment at a meeting in Kano.
As General Secretary, Ugboaja was central to the day-to-day running of the labour centre, overseeing relations with affiliate unions, industrial relations, negotiations with government and employers, policy implementation and workers’ mobilisation.
His position placed him at the heart of some of the NLC’s major battles over wages, working conditions and workers’ welfare.
His tenure included major labour-government negotiations over implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage approved in 2019. The dispute brought organised labour and government close to industrial action before an agreement was eventually reached, making it one of the early major tests of his leadership at the NLC Secretariat.
Ugboaja remained active in the Congress’ campaign for improved wages and workers’ rights until his final months. In April 2026, he signed an NLC directive urging workers in states that had yet to fully implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to participate in street rallies on May Day.
Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja studied Law at the University of Calabar, graduating in 1987. He spent about four years in private legal practice before joining the trade union movement in 1993.
According to the NLC’s historical biography, he became the first Nigerian lawyer to work full-time for a trade union.
He began his major union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, an NLC affiliate, eventually serving as its General Secretary from 2000 to 2005.
Ugboaja later moved into civil society, serving as Coordinator of Advocacy and Mobilisation at the Alliance for Credible Elections between 2006 and 2009 before joining the NLC Secretariat.
He also participated in major national reform processes, serving as a delegate to the Political and Constitutional Reform Conference convened under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 and taking part in the Constitution Review Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
Before becoming General Secretary, he served as Principal Assistant General Secretary and headed the NLC’s Industrial Relations and Organising Department.
Ugboaja’s death marks the loss of a veteran organiser whose career straddled law, trade unionism, industrial relations and civil society advocacy.
His more than three decades in organised labour leave a significant footprint in the movement, particularly in workers’ organisation, wage negotiations and industrial relations.
The Congress is expected to announce further details on funeral arrangements.
