Labour and the cracking facade

• Published date: 14 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

AHEAD of the February and March 2023 dates for the general elections in the country, cracks are appearing on the wall of organized Labour in the country.

The workers' unions as represented by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) cannot be said to be speaking with one voice as regards who should lead the country from May 29, 2023.

To say the least, the house of Labour is not united on the matter. Sentry recalled that last June, the leadership of both NLC and TUC announced Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) as the preferred choice of Nigerian workers.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, described him as one of the finest Nigerians and the first presidential candidate of Labour Party to be recognised by the labour centres. For his part, TUC President, Mr. Quadri Olaleye said all the unions were pleased with his emergence and ready to work with him. He said the entire labour movement had accepted him and would ensure workers vote massively for him in the presidential elections.

But chapters of the NLC and TUC in some states have since been rejecting Obi and endorsing others candidates for the presidency. In a surprise move, the leadership of the unions in Lagos State on Thursday endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for second term in office.

Feelers reaching Sentry also revealed that Labour unions in Oyo State are on the verge of declaring...