Niger Delta

Niger Delta youths task Ajaero on protection of Labour’s integrity

Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has urged the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and all labour leaders in Nigeria to rise up and safeguard the integrity of the Congress.

The NDYC has also condemned Ajaero’s attempts to use the NLC as a platform to pursue his personal political and legal agendas, reminding him that the NLC belongs to the workers of Nigeria and should prioritise their interests above all else.

In a statement signed by Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, National Coordinator of NDYC, the group called on Ajaero work collaboratively with the government to develop policies that benefit all Nigerians, including the labour force.

He said: “Using NLC for personal gain is not only irresponsible but also a blatant disregard for the core principles that the Congress stands for—the protection and advancement of Nigerian workers’ rights.

“Any attempt by the leadership of the NLC to portray themselves as a victim of government policies, particularly in the context of the recent fuel pump price increase, is deeply misleading.

“While the increase in fuel prices is undeniably burdensome, any well-informed economist understands that, given the economic circumstances Nigeria currently faces, such an adjustment was necessary to fulfill the minimum wage demands championed by the NLC.

“It is also disturbing to note that infusing personal political affiliations into the activities of the NLC, as was egregiously demonstrated during the gubernatorial elections in Imo State is not worthy as such actions threaten to inflame political tensions and degrade the reputation of the NLC, an institution that should remain neutral and focused solely on the welfare of Nigerian workers.”

The NDYC, therefore, called on the leadership of the NLC and all labour leaders in Nigeria to rise up and safeguard the integrity of the Congress.

“The President of the NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero must be reminded that the NLC is not a shield for personal legal battles or political maneuvering. The NLC belongs to the workers of Nigeria, and it is their interests that must be prioritized above all else.

“We also urge Mr Ajaero to cease using the NLC as a platform to pursue his personal political and legal agendas. Nigerians are increasingly seeing through the façade he presents—his so-called activism for the masses is nothing more than a vehicle for his personal ambitions.

“The NLC, under his leadership, should not continue to be a tool for opposing government policies solely to cast the current administration in a negative light. Instead, the NLC should work collaboratively with the government to develop and implement policies that benefit all Nigerians, including the labour force.

“Enough is enough. Nigerians are wise to these tactics, and we will no longer tolerate the politicisation of the NLC. We stand firm in our call for the NLC to return to its true purpose—advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers, free from the taint of personal and political interests.”

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