A growing conflict has emerged within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) following the inauguration of the Lagos State chapter of Working People United (WoPU), a movement supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The national NLC leadership had strictly forbidden its affiliate unions from attending the launch, yet the event proceeded with significant participation.
As a result, the national body has issued a formal query to Agnes Sessi, the Chairperson of the NLC Lagos State Council. The leadership alleges that Sessi supported an unauthorized, parallel workers’ group without prior consultation, characterizing her actions as a violation of her oath of office and a disregard for organizational protocols. Sessi was given 24 hours to explain her involvement.
Conversely, WoPU has denounced the NLC’s directive as an infringement on the constitutional right to freedom of association. Citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions, the group asserts that workers are entitled to join any political association of their choosing without seeking permission from union officials. WoPU clarified that it does not intend to replace the NLC, but rather aims to provide a platform for workers to engage in political advocacy and support candidates aligned with their interests, specifically President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
During the inauguration, National Coordinator Prince Williams Akporeha described the event as a grassroots effort to mobilize support for the administration’s policies, including the new minimum wage and student loan initiatives. WoPU has pledged to protect its members and Sessi against any retaliatory measures, emphasizing that it remains committed to its democratic right to participate in the political process.
