Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress
(NLC), emphasized that the creation of the
Labour Party from the NLC does not
grant the party any authoritative control over the actions of the union. The
NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had recently reached agreements with the
federal government, leading to the suspension of a planned strike scheduled for
Wednesday.
During an interview on Channels TV, Ajaero acknowledged the
affiliation between the Labour Party and the NLC but refuted the claim that the
party sponsors the union. He clarified, “Well, I’m not sure if these
issues are well-informed. It is evident to everyone in Nigeria that the Labour
Party is owned by the NLC, and no leader of the NLC can deny that.”
He continued, “But even when various presidential
candidates analyzed the issue of subsidy, the NLC made it clear. I distinctly
remember stating that if the Labour Party candidate supported the subsidy, he
would face severe consequences from the Labour Movement because it contradicts our
demands and the ideology for which the Labour Party was formed.”
Ajaero firmly asserted that the formation of the Labour Party
does not grant it the right to dictate or control the NLC’s actions. He
expressed his displeasure at the suggestion, stating, “To say that the
Labour Party is now dictating to the NLC, the very organization that formed it,
is an insult of the highest order.”
He added, “If people resort to blackmail, it should not
be directed at us. We, to a large extent, determine what happens in the Labour
Party. Who is the Labour Party and their candidate to tell the NLC what to do?
The actions we are taking now, aren’t they consistent with our stance on fuel
subsidy?”
Joe Ajaero’s remarks made it clear that while the NLC and the
Labour Party are interconnected, the formation of the party does not grant it
superiority over the NLC’s decisions. He emphasized the NLC’s autonomy and the
importance of staying aligned with the union’s demands and principles.
