NLC moves against pro-Tinubu group, queries Lagos chairman

Internal friction has emerged within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) following a directive from its national secretariat urging affiliate unions and officials to disassociate from "Working People United" (WoPU), a group campaigning for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. The directive has reportedly created tension within the organized labor movement, particularly after Agnes Sessi, the Lagos State Council Chairman of the NLC, participated in WoPU's activities.

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Your involvement in the activities of the organisation appears to be in violation of the oath of office you took as Chairperson of the Lagos State Council and raises serious concerns regarding your obligations to the Congress.

Sessi, who also serves as the Lagos State Coordinator for WoPU, led nationally by former Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers President Williams Akporeha, has been officially queried by the NLC national secretariat. A memo dated August 11, 2026, signed by Benson Upah, the NLC Deputy General Secretary, accused Sessi of disregarding the directive and failing to consult with the congress leadership. Her involvement, the memo stated, raises questions about her responsibilities as an elected officer and potentially violates her oath of office.

The NLC's memo further accused Sessi of betraying her oath, acting against congress rules, supporting a "parallel organization," and undermining the national body's authority. This action has intensified a broader debate within labor circles regarding the NLC national leadership's authority to regulate the political activities of its officials and members, especially as political realignments for the 2027 elections gain momentum.

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They have now ignored their constitutional mandate of protecting workers welfare to dabble into politics for the single reason of being against the re-election of Mr President in 2027.

Williams Akporeha, however, has rejected the NLC leadership's stance, characterizing the directive against WoPU as an infringement on the constitutional rights of workers and citizens to associate freely. He argued in a statement that the NLC lacks the authority to prevent workers from joining political support organizations of their choice, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association. Akporeha described the NLC's directive as an "affront on the sensibility of Nigerian workers" and suggested the leadership is prioritizing political opposition over protecting workers' welfare.

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Working People United sees this directive as an affront on the sensibility of Nigerian workers, Nigerian working people, Nigerian citizens and o