NLC orders members to picket LP secretariats nationwide

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The conflict between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Labour Party intensified on Wednesday, with the labor union instructing its state councils and political commission to picket Labour Party (LP) offices nationwide.

The directive was outlined in a letter signed by Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, chairperson and secretary of the NLC Political Commission, dated March 19, 2024.

The letter said that the action followed a meeting between the NLC National Political Commission and the leadership of its State Councils and State Political Committees on the same day.

“That given the intransigence of the National Chairman of the Labour Party to unilaterally hold a National Convention of the Labour Party, financial rascality and contempt for the leadership of the NLC, the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees should mobilise workers to picket all the State Secretariats of the Labour Party, scheduled for Wednesday, 20th March 2024,”l

“In view of the soon to be held all-inclusive national convention of the Labour Party, the NLC State Councils and the NLC Political Committees should immediately embark on a statewide mobilisation of workers to join the NLC Political Commission and the Labour Party.

“The NLC State Council and State Political Committees should work with our civil society allies, students, traders, and professionals to ensure that the picketing and mobilisation are successfully executed,” the Tuesday directive read.

On Friday, the NLC political commission accused LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, and the party’s NWC of planning a national convention in Umuahia on March 27 to re-elect Abure as the sole administrator, which was deemed secretive and illegal.

Consequently, the political wing of the NLC is urging Abure’s immediate resignation and advocating for the establishment of a caretaker transition committee to arrange a lawful and inclusive national convention for the party.

The LP leadership vehemently rejected the directive, claiming it was motivated by Ajaero’s aspiration to assume the role of the party’s national chairman.

In a statement titled ‘Resign as NLC President to Contest LP Chairmanship, Labour Party advises Joe Ajero,’ the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, noted that the party’s leadership is not bound to adhere to instructions from non-party members who are unionists.