Stakeholders of the Nigeria Labour Congress will convene to address the leadership crisis within the Labour Party and consider the reinstatement of Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.
In addition to other considerations, reports state that unionists are proposing the formation of a caretaker committee to assume control of the opposition party.
“Invitations have been sent out to all relevant stakeholders and members of the NLC Political Commission. The meeting will take place tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja.
“That meeting may seal the fate of Abure as arrangements have been concluded to set up a caretaker committee to take over the leadership of the party,” a source told PUNCH.
The development arises following an unsuccessful bid by the party’s Board of Trustees to oust Abure and assume leadership of the LP.
Recently, a contingent of retired workers, represented by the Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists, staged a protest demanding the immediate resignation of the party chairman.
Likewise, the retirees urged NLC President Joe Ajaero to step down from his position due to perceived failure in safeguarding their interests during the party’s leadership dispute.
Attempts to obtain a response from NLC spokesman Benson Upah were unsuccessful.
At the time of reporting this story, Upah did not respond to calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages seeking clarification.
A few hours following the widespread circulation of the NLC invitation, the leadership of the Labour Party strongly opposed the scheduled meeting, denouncing it as an unlawful gathering orchestrated by certain individuals termed ‘drama boys.’
In a statement titled ‘Proposed NLC Stakeholders meeting a jamboree by drama boys, illegal and outcome a nullity,’ the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, expressed the opposition party’s disapproval of the planned assembly.
Ifoh further urged law enforcement agencies to intervene and prevent the gathering, emphasizing the need to apprehend the unionists before their intended actions escalate into a public disturbance.
He said, “It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the Labour Party of a letter of invitation trending in some sections of the media, purportedly written by some desperate characters in the Nigeria Labour Congress, inviting some Nigerians to an illegal stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold on Monday in Abuja, wherein they propose to appoint a caretaker committee for the Labour Party.
“This meeting being organised by some drama boys and attention-seeking personalities in the NLC is illegal as we have not authorised it and it is not supported by any law in the land and, therefore, its outcome, a nullity. We are, therefore, calling on all genuine members of the party to disregard and shun the meeting.
“A few days ago, the Federal Government raised the electricity tariff to about 300 per cent and the NLC has neither responded to it nor called out its members to protest the increment. But it is quick to convene an unlawful meeting of disgruntled members who are not even party members.
“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion and abort this gathering which may likely degenerate into a public nuisance. NLC does not have any proprietary right over the Labour Party and, therefore, cannot continue to lay claim to its ownership.”