In a recent interview, Ayuba Wabba, a former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), shed light on the genesis of the Labour Party and its relationship with the NLC.
Addressing the ongoing rift between the union and the political party, Wabba provided insights into the party's formation and its alignment with the core objectives of the labour movement.
Wabba emphasized that the Labour Party was established by the NLC as a platform for its members to assert and safeguard their rights. He underscored the party's origins, tracing it back to the leadership of Pascal Bafyau and its initial incarnation as the Party for Social Democracy. Under subsequent leadership, including that of Adams, the party evolved into the Labour Party, with S.O.Z Ejiofor as its inaugural chairman.
Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the NLC and the Labour Party, Wabba emphasized the union's integral role in the party's inception and registration. Drawing an analogy, he likened the party to a property built and owned by the NLC, emphasizing the union's vested interest in its management and governance.
The rift between the NLC and the Labour Party stems from the alleged failure of the party to honor a consent agreement brokered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and signed in June 2022. According to Wabba, the agreement outlined provisions for the inauguration of a Board of Trustees, headed by the party's pioneer chairman, and the organization of a national convention.
In response to the perceived breach of the agreement, the NLC instructed its state councils and political commissions to picket Labour Party secretariats nationwide. The union aims to "draw the attention" of the Labour Party to the importance of respecting the sanctity of the June 27, 2022, agreement brokered by INEC, according to Wabba.
As tensions persist between the NLC and the Labour Party, Wabba's clarifications provide valuable insights into the historical context and underlying concerns driving the dispute. The outcome of ongoing negotiations and actions taken by both parties will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of their relationship and the broader dynamics between labor unions and political entities in Nigeria.
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