2027: Tension in NLC as Ajaero kicks against pro-Tinubu group

A simmering crisis is brewing between the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and some affiliates of the organised labour union over a directive barring them from associating with a pro-Tinubu support group, Working People United (WoPU), led by the immediate past President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporeha.

Investigation revealed that the NLC leadership had issued a formal directive to its members to stay away from the inauguration of the Lagos State chapter of the pro-Tinubu group, which took place on Wednesday in Lagos. Incidentally, the Chairman of the NLC, Lagos State Council, Comrade Agnes Sessi, is the Lagos State Coordinator of the pro-Tinubu group.

Further investigation revealed that the NLC, led by Comrade Joe Ajaero, had formally queried the Chairman of its Lagos Council for allegedly disregarding its directive not to attend the inauguration of WoPU, which had Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, among the invited dignitaries.

In the memo sighted, dated August 11, 2026, and signed by the Deputy General Secretary/Head of Information and Public Affairs Department of the NLC, Benson Upah, the congress formally queried Sessi over her role in the group.

The NLC further accused the Chairman of its Lagos Council of failing to inform or consult the Congress leadership before fraternising with WoPU, which is promoting a fresh mandate for President Tinubu.

“Your involvement in the activities of the organisation appears to be in violation of the oath of office you took as Chairperson of the Lagos State Council and raises serious concerns regarding your obligations to the Congress.”

The memo equally accused her of “betraying the oath of office”, “acting in contravention of the established rules, regulations and directives of the Congress”, “promoting or supporting a parallel organisation to the Congress” and “undermining the authority of the national body”.

WoPU kicks

Reacting to the development in a press statement, the National Coordinator-General of the pro-Tinubu forum, Comrade Akporeha, faulted the directive of the NLC national secretariat instructing presidents and general secretaries of affiliate unions not to associate with WoPU, describing it as a gross violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the International Labour Organisation’s convention on freedom of association.

“They have now ignored their constitutional mandate of protecting workers’ welfare to dabble into politics for the single reason of being against the re-election of Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2027.

“Working People United sees this directive as an affront to the sensibility of Nigerian workers, Nigerian working people, Nigerian citizens and our Constitution and rights.

“WoPU views this directive as a fundamental violation of the constitutional rights of Nigerian workers to freedom of association as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees:

“Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his/her interests.”

Akporeha, who maintained that “no law in the NLC constitution requires that a political support group must seek approval of some persons in the hierarchy before it operates”, further accused Ajaero of coercing affiliates of the NLC to support only candidates of the Labour Party.

The statement further read:

“Working People United (WoPU) is a convergence of like minds across all professions, artisans, market men and women, working people from formal and informal sectors, private and public sectors, who have decided to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and other progressive-minded candidates seeking leadership, against the forced coercion of the Ajaero-led NLC to support a candidate and a party he wishes for his own personal promised gains.

“It is unfortunate that some persons in NLC are now arrogating powers they do not possess by directing individuals, unions and affiliates that their members should only join and support the Labour Party.

“We recollect how this person has tried to coerce all workers to join LP and support a particular candidate in the last election and is still doing the same in 2027, against the freedom of association of individuals.

“It should be noted that the NLC is a group of individual unions with their rights and decisions made via their various organs, as enshrined and governed by their individual constitutions, and not by any person in NLC.

“It is unfortunate that the assertion that individuals should take permission from some few leaders of NLC before exercising their constitutional fundamental human rights to belong to any association of their choice is now a treasonable offence.

“To say the least, this is laughable and appalling that some few individuals are trying to drag our highly respected NLC to this very lowest ebb.

“This constitutes a threat, deliberate and direct affront against the rights of working people to freely associate.”