Coalition Faults NLC Over Meddling in Senate Affairs, Cautions Ajaero

A coalition of civil society groups has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under the leadership of Comrade Joe Ajaero against what it described as “undue interference” in the affairs of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Abubakar Ado, the coalition accused the NLC of abandoning its primary responsibility of protecting workers’ welfare and instead meddling in partisan politics over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The group condemned Ajaero’s threat to embark on an indefinite strike unless the suspended senator was recalled, describing the move as “an embarrassment and a mockery of the NLC’s mandate.”

“It has now become evident that the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress has constituted itself into an embarrassment, one that leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many Nigerians,” the statement read.

The coalition queried why the NLC had failed to mobilize against the killings of Nigerians by terrorists and bandits but was quick to wade into a political issue involving an individual lawmaker.

“It is regrettable that the NLC, which was created for the sole purpose of advancing the cause of Nigerian workers, has now become a willing tool in the hands of individual politicians. This is a sad reversal of its veritable role,” the group added.

The statement urged Ajaero to resign from the labour movement and join a political party “rather than hide under the cloak of trade unionism to advance personal and parochial interests.”

According to the coalition, dragging the labour movement into a political battle undermines its credibility and weakens public confidence in its leadership.

The group further called on the NLC to respect the constitutionally assigned role of the Senate and the judiciary, stressing that any attempt to undermine their independence amounts to an assault on democracy and the rule of law.

“Our position is clear: we stand ready to defend the independence of our democratic institutions, which represent the fulcrum of democracy, rule of law and order in the society,” the statement concluded.

Ladan Nasidi ,Kano