NLC may endorse Wabba, others for second term

Nigerian workers under the auspices Nigeria Labour Congress will hold its National delegates conference in Tuesday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to review the state of workers in the last four years and map out plans for the future.

The two conference, according to inside sources is expected to affirm the current leadership of the union led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba for a second term.

The tenure of the current leadership expires this month, having been elected in 2015.

The source told The Nation that every member of National Administrative Council, except one of the deputy Presidents, Comrade Kiri Mohammed will be returned unopposed to lead the Congress for another four years.

Comrade Kiri Mohammed who was elected Deputy President when he was President of Nigeria Civil Service Union has since retired from service, making him ineligible to re-contest.

In his place, The Nation was informed that one of the four Vice Chairmen and President of the Construction workers Union, Comrade Amaechi Asughuna may be asked to take his place.

The opening ceremony of conference with the theme towards a decade of activism for the promotion of Labour unity, national rebirth and development is expected to hold on Tuesday.

Governorship candidate of the Labour party in Kwara state and NEC member of the Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu while congratulating the Congress said with as many as 12 delegates’ conferences in the past 40 years, which had produced as many as 12 labour’s democratically elected Administrative Councils, “it was self-evident that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has come of age in democratic processes and experiences.” According to him given the record of achievements of NLC “Nigeria Republic has a lot to learn from the labour movement in holding elections and serving the people in poverty eradication”.

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Aremu said it was also remarkable because NLC had recorded great achievements such as the new minimum wage of N30,000. The labour leader also hailed the emergence of Comrade Ayuba Wabba as the first African unionist to lead adding the “Union truly makes Nigerian workers Strong”.

“This historic conference gives all delegates the opportunity to face up to the challenges of the Congress’s growth and unity. The Conference must usher in a united labour movement in actions in defense of workers’ rights, revival of industries and deepening of democratic process in Nigeria.

“In particular, there should be robust resolutions among which should be the reinvention of the Labour Party to serve as platform for the working class to struggle for political power within the democratic dispensation.”