Crisis Intensifies As NLC Orders Members To Picket Labour Party Secretariats Nationwide

The conflict between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Labour Party leadership intensified on Wednesday as the labour union directed its state councils and political commission to stage picketing activities at Labour Party secretariats nationwide.

This was revealed in a letter dated March 19, 2024, bearing the signatures of Titus Amba, Chairperson of the NLC Political Commission, and Chris Uyot, Secretary.

As per the letter, this directive follows a virtual meeting held on March 19, 2024, between the NLC National Political Commission and the leadership of the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees.

“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,” the letter partly read.

Recall that the National Working Committee of the Labour Party had on Saturday, March 16, accused Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, of making desperate attempts to replace Julius Abure, the Labour Party National Chairman.

The accusation arose in reply to an open letter penned on Friday by the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, representing the political arm of the NLC.

The letter raised allegations against Abure and the NWC, claiming that they had put forward plans for a national convention in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, on March 27.

The convention was said to be aimed at re-electing Abure as the sole administrator of the Labour Party, with concerns of secrecy surrounding the event.

The political wing of the NLC deemed the planned convention illegal and is demanding the immediate resignation of Abure as the party chairman.

They are also calling for the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.

However, the LP leadership strongly opposed the directive, alleging that it was driven by Ajaero’s supposed desire to become the next national chairman of the party.

Reacting 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, made it clear that the party’s leadership does not feel obligated to follow the directives of non-party members who are unionists.

“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 concluded.