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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has mourned the death of its General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Okechukwu Ugboaja, describing him as a titan of the labour movement who devoted his life to the struggle for workers’ rights and social justice.
Ugboaja died in the early hours of Saturday, August 22, 2026, after a protracted illness.
The NLC disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Hotel Presidential, Enugu, on Thursday, and signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The Congress said it received the news of Ugboaja’s death from his family, describing his passing as a deep loss to Nigerian workers and the global trade union movement.
According to the NLC, the late General Secretary continued to focus on the welfare of Nigerian workers despite his health challenges, describing him as a courageous and committed servant of the working class.
The Congress said Ugboaja was a distinguished scholar, legal mind, advocate and strategist who made significant contributions to the labour movement during his years of service.
It noted that he played prominent roles at the negotiating table and on the picket line, while also representing the interests of workers and the downtrodden at major national engagements.
The NLC recalled that Ugboaja served as a delegate at the National Political Reform Conference in 2005 and the National Conference in 2014, where he articulated issues affecting the downtrodden.
The Congress said his commitment was not limited to Nigeria, as he also demonstrated strong support for international working-class solidarity.
It said the NEC had resolved that the late labour leader deserved a befitting rite of passage and that the NLC leadership was already working with his family to ensure that he was given a funeral that reflected his contributions to the struggle for social justice.
The Congress urged members of the labour movement to remain steadfast despite the loss, saying the struggle for equity and fairness in the workplace must continue.
The NLC described Ugboaja’s legacy as a source of inspiration to workers and future generations of labour leaders.
The communique read in part: “Comrade Ugboaja was not merely a General Secretary; he was the quintessential ‘General Secretary of General Secretaries.’ He was no ordinary man!
“An erudite scholar, a passionate advocate, and a cerebral strategist, he brought to the trade union movement an intellect that was as sharp as his legal mind, honed at the University of Calabar.
“He denied himself the comforts and privileges of life to shield the Nigerian worker and the oppressed masses, not just in Nigeria, but throughout the globe.
“In his tenure, Comrade Ugboaja was a robust figure at the negotiating table and a rugged presence on the picket line.
“He was a man of the people, serving as a delegate at the National Political Reform Conference in 2005 and the National Conference in 2014, where he articulated the cause of the downtrodden with unparalleled clarity. The struggle has indeed lost a titan,”
while assuring that his legacy would remain relevant to the fight for workers’ rights, the Congress expressed condolences to Ugboaja’s immediate family, the entire NLC family and all affiliated unions, urging comrades to remain steadfast and keep faith with the struggle.
“This is not a funeral; this is a roll call of the living, and though our General has fallen, his spirit will answer ‘Present!’ in our ongoing struggle for equity and fair play in our workplaces,” the document added.
