The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has directed union leaders across the country to mobilize their members for a nationwide takeover of Labour Party (LP) offices, following the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on the leadership crisis within the party. Ajaero’s call, which came in an internal memo on Tuesday, has sparked tensions between the Labour Party and the NLC, as both sides brace for further confrontations.
The directive by Ajaero is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday, which vacated an earlier ruling by the lower courts. The ruling, which further complicated the leadership battle within the Labour Party, has caused widespread anger among NLC members, leading to Ajaero’s push to reclaim what he described as “what belongs to Nigerian workers and genuine members of the Labour Party.”
The dispute between the NLC and the leadership of the Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, dates back to March 2024, when unionists stormed the Labour Party’s headquarters. The NLC members broke into the LP offices across the country, accusing Abure and his team of mismanaging the party’s affairs and allegedly attempting to steal sensitive documents and funds. The National Working Committee of the Labour Party condemned the invasion, claiming it was a deliberate effort to undermine the party’s operations.
Despite the earlier invasion, Ajaero insisted that the Labour Party leadership, under Abure, had ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling. He stated in the memo, “We cannot fold our hands and watch Abure and his team defy the Supreme Court’s pronouncement. By this communication, we urge every worker in Nigeria, all genuine members of the Labour Party, and all lovers of democracy to be on standby to once again peacefully repossess all offices of the Labour Party nationwide.”
Ajaero’s memo also included instructions to the NLC Political Commission and other key stakeholders within the Labour Party to coordinate the action to reclaim the party offices. In a significant move, Ajaero warned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the State Security Service (SSS) that they have a constitutional duty to enforce the Supreme Court’s judgment. He expressed hope that security agencies would cooperate with the NLC to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
He further stated, “Any action to the contrary will present our dear country as a banana republic. Nigerian workers and people, especially genuine members of the Labour Party, will not sit back and watch unscrupulous elements desecrate Nigeria’s laws and the well-founded judgment of the Supreme Court.”
The NLC president also expressed surprise that despite the Supreme Court ruling, Julius Abure and his associates were still acting as national officers of the party. According to Ajaero, this continued defiance of the law had led to the union’s previous actions and would likely lead to further mobilization if the situation was not addressed.
To resolve the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party, Ajaero proposed that the surviving institutional members of the LP National Executive Committee (NEC) should appoint an interim leadership to organize a National Convention. The convention would aim to select a new leadership in line with the Labour Party’s constitution and the court’s judgment. This would also help restore legitimacy to the party’s leadership structure.
Additionally, Ajaero called for the removal of Julius Abure and his loyalists’ names from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database, a move he believes is necessary to give effect to the court’s judgment. “We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has always pleaded alignment with the pronouncements of the court, to give full effect to the conclusive judgment of the Supreme Court by removing every insignia of Mr. Julius Abure and his National Working Committee from its portals,” Ajaero stated.
The NLC president’s call for action signals the union’s growing dissatisfaction with the Labour Party leadership. However, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, especially given the significant political and legal ramifications of the dispute.
Efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful. However, the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk, responded to the NLC’s threat, stating that the Labour Party would soon release a statement addressing the issue.
Farouk dismissed Ajaero’s threat, calling it “nothing new” and referring to the actions of the NLC as “rascality.” He expressed confidence that the Labour Party would continue to function despite the challenges posed by the union’s efforts to take control of the party’s offices. “We will soon issue a statement on it. The threat is nothing new. We are used to their rascality,” Farouk stated.
The escalating tensions between the NLC and the Labour Party could have significant implications for the party’s future and the broader political landscape in Nigeria. The Labour Party, which has gained prominence in recent years, especially after the 2023 general elections, now faces internal strife that could weaken its position.
The NLC’s involvement in the Labour Party’s leadership crisis is also a critical development. The NLC, as a major union body representing workers across the country, has substantial influence in Nigerian politics. Its mobilization could mobilize a large portion of the electorate and Labour Party members to challenge Abure’s leadership, further deepening the political divide within the party.
As both sides brace for a confrontation, the involvement of security agencies and the judiciary will be crucial in determining the outcome of this dispute. If the NLC successfully takes control of Labour Party offices nationwide, it could lead to a shift in the party’s leadership and policies. On the other hand, if Abure’s faction manages to retain control, it could result in a prolonged legal and political battle that might further polarize the party.
The crisis also raises broader questions about the role of political parties in Nigeria and the influence of labor unions in shaping party leadership. With Nigerian workers increasingly voicing their discontent over economic and political issues, the NLC’s actions could play a key role in reshaping the country’s political future.
