Labour Party Chief Cries Foul As NLC Protest Turns Violent

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a shocking turn of events, the escalating conflict between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Labour Party (LP) leadership took an ugly turn on Wednesday, as protesting NLC members allegedly vandalized the party’s secretariats nationwide.

Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, has accused the protesters of not only causing extensive property damage but also stealing money meant for staff salaries.

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According to a statement issued by LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party lost property worth millions of naira during the invasion by the protesting NLC members.

Abure lamented that the protesters broke into the offices, destroyed gates and fences, and unlawfully took possession of the secretariat, making away with funds intended for official purposes, including staff salaries.

“What we saw was a show of shame, a show of rascality, an abuse of office and an abuse of the law of the land,” Abure said, condemning the actions of the NLC protesters led by Joe Ajaero. He insisted that the NLC’s actions were illegal, as the union has no legitimate reason to picket an organization where they have no workers.

The ongoing conflict between the two organizations escalated on Wednesday when NLC members picketed LP secretariats across the country, demanding Abure’s resignation. While the protesters were spotted laying siege to the LP national headquarters in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs, they were initially prevented from gaining access by security operatives posted to maintain order.

Abure accused Ajaero of having ulterior motives and vowed not to allow him to hijack the party, alleging that the NLC’s actions were aimed at destroying the LP’s successes in the 2023 general elections.

He also refuted claims that the party was planning a secret convention, asserting that plans for a convention within a year were approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in April 2023, and all relevant stakeholders, including the NLC, were informed.

The Labour Party chairman expressed disappointment with the NLC’s actions, stating, “I had expected that as a responsible trade union center, a responsible labor leader, he [Ajaero] should have teamed up with the Labour Party to see how we can work together to make the country better. Unfortunately and ironically too, the NLC is the one that is at war against the Labour Party.”

As the situation escalates, both parties are trading accusations, with the LP demanding the arrest of the NLC president over the alleged invasion and vandalism of their secretariat. The NLC, on the other hand, has called for Abure’s sacking, citing concerns over the party’s leadership and direction.

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This violent turn of events has cast a shadow over the already strained relationship between the two organizations, raising concerns about the potential impact on the labor movement and the political landscape in Nigeria.

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