The ongoing conflict between the Nigeria Labour Congress,(NLC), and the leadership of the Labour Party escalated yesterday, as it stormed the secretariat of the Labour Party, (LP), to protest the party’s national convention planned for end of this month.
The Congress also demanded sack of the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure. The NLC leadership accused Abure of planning to hold a “secret” convention without the inputs of major stakeholders.
The planned convention has pitched Abure against the NLC and the House of Representatives caucus. The workers accused Abure of planning to destroy the Labour Party.
The protesting workers have been refused entry into the party Secretariat by the Nigeria Police Force. The labour union has reportedly instructed its state councils and political commission to picket Labour Party secretariats across the country.
This was contained in a letter issued yesterday, and signed by the chairperson of the NLC Political Commission, Titus Amba, and the secretary, Chris Uyot.
According to the letter, dated Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the directive is coming after a meeting of the NLC National Political Commission and the leadership of the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees, which took place virtually on March 19, 2024.
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 state-wide 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.
