Tension has emerged within the Nigeria Labour Congress after its national leadership directed affiliates not to associate with a pro-Tinubu support group known as Working People United.
The group is led by former NUPENG president Williams Akporeha. The NLC instructed members to stay away from the inauguration of its Lagos State chapter held on Wednesday, which was attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and APC candidate Obafemi Hamzat.
Lagos State NLC chairman Agnes Sessi, who serves as the group’s state coordinator, was subsequently queried for attending despite the directive.
In a memo dated August 11 and signed by Deputy General Secretary Benson Upah, the congress accused her of violating her oath of office and undermining national authority.
“Your involvement in the activities of the organisation appears to violate the oath of office you took as chairperson of the Lagos State Council and raises serious concerns regarding your obligations to the congress,” the memo stated.
It further charged her with “betraying the oath of office”, acting against congress rules, and “promoting or supporting a parallel organisation”.
Akporeha condemned the directive as a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of association under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and International Labour Organisation conventions.
“They have now ignored their constitutional mandate of protecting workers’ welfare to dabble in politics solely to oppose the re-election of Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2027,” he said.
WoPU maintains that no provision in the NLC constitution requires political support groups to seek approval from the national leadership before operating.
