Labour Party Belongs to NLC: Former NLC President Wabba Clarifies Ownership and Disputes

Former Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba shed light on the ongoing dispute between the NLC and the Labour Party (LP).

Wabba clarified that the Labour Party was formed by the NLC as a platform for members to exercise and defend their political rights.

Wabba’s statements come in the wake of the NLC’s instruction to state councils and political commissions to picket Labour Party secretariats across the country.

The NLC also demanded the sacking of the LP’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, and protested the party’s planned national convention at the end of the month.

The former NLC president explained that the formation of the Labour Party aligns with the major objective of the NLC, as stated in Article 3 and Item 1 of the NLC Constitution.

This objective is to promote, defend, and advance the economic, political, and social rights and well-being of Nigerian workers and pensioners.

Wabba further elaborated on the history of the Labour Party, which was initially formed as the Party for Social Democracy under the leadership of Pascal Bafyau.

The party’s name was later changed to the Labour Party during Adams’ tenure, with the first chairman being S.O.Z Ejiofor, who later handed over to Dan Anyanwu.

The basis of the dispute between the NLC and the LP lies in the party’s failure to honor the contents of a consent agreement brokered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and signed in June 2022.

The agreement stipulated the formation of a Board of Trustees, headed by the pioneer chairman of the party, and the conduct of a national convention.

In response to the dispute, the NLC decided to picket the party’s secretariats to draw attention to the need for the Labour Party to respect the sanctity of the June 27, 2022, agreement, which was brokered by INEC.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the Labour Party will address the concerns of the NLC and take steps to resolve the dispute.

The outcome of this conflict could have significant implications for the future of the Labour Party and its relationship with the NLC, as well as the rights of Nigerian workers and pensioners.