The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils and political commissions to picket Labour Party secretariats across the country.
This was stated in a letter dated March 19, 2024, received by Chronicle NG on Wednesday and signed by Titus Amba, the chairperson of the NLC Political Commission, and Chris Uyot, its secretary.
According to the letter, the decision was issued following a meeting of the NLC National Political Commission and the leadership of the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees held virtually on March 19, 2024.
“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, March 20, 2024,” the letter partly read.
According to a reports, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee accused Joe Ajaero, the union’s President, of making desperate attempts to replace Julius Abure, the Labour Party’s National Chairman.
The charge came in reaction to an open letter issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, the union’s political section, on Friday.
The letter accused Abure and the NWC of planning a national convention in Umuahia, Abia State’s capital, on March 27.
The convention was claimed to be geared towards re-electing Abure as the only administrator of the Labour Party, prompting concerns about the event’s secrecy.
The labour union’s political wing ruled the planned convention illegitimate and demanded Abure’s immediate resignation as party head.
They also advocate for the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a genuine and inclusive national convention for the party.
However, the LP leadership fiercely opposed the decision, claiming it was motivated by Ajaero’s alleged intention to become the party’s next national chairman.
In response, the Labour Party advised Joe Ajero to resign as the union’s President and run for LP Chairmanship.
Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, has stated unequivocally that the party’s leadership does not feel bound to follow the directions of non-party 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.
