Obi's supporters ask NLC to respect laws in Labour Party affairs

Supporters of the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, under the auspices of Northern Obidients Youth Assembly (NOYA), has warned the Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to desist from threatening the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and other officials of the ministry after they were cautioned from meddling into political parties affairs.

Recall that a recent letter signed by the Director/Registrar of Trade Unions, Falonipe Amos, on behalf of the Minister of State, Labour and Employment had cautioned the NLC from meddling in the affairs of LP and other political parties and to abide strictly by the Act that established the duo.

Uncomfortable with the development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC, in a communiqué issued at the end of its last meeting on August 7, called on the Federal Government to caution the Minister of Labour and its officials to desist from interfering in their right of political participation.

The NLC executives demanded the “immediate withdrawal of intrusive and misplaced unsolicited advice from the Registrar of Trade Unions to avert industrial crisis as the congress and its affiliates will stop recognising and relating with him.”

But in a statement, yesterday, signed by the Coordinator of NOYA, Hussaini Murkhtar, the group warned the NLC to refrain from threatening and distracting the Labour ministry officials and obey the laws of the land.

Murkhtar advised the Ajaero-led NLC to take a cue from the exemplary leadership of the TUC, which, he said, conducted itself professionally and productively.

The group wondered why the NLC would be comfortable operating outside the Act that established them and also chose to be defiant when they were being corrected.

“I think at this point, what the NLC should focus on is obeying the laws of the land and acting in line with the Act that set them up instead of threatening a serving ministry.

“This is an act of hooliganism and thuggery and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. The NLC has the mandate of protecting the welfare of workers but in recent times they have lost focus and become more interested in politics,” the group said.

The NOYA coordinator said that they would resist any attempt by political jobbers to use the NLC to destabilise any political party in Nigeria, especially the Labour Party.