The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, urging it to refrain from any attempts to interfere in the tenure of union leaders across the country. This call was made by Mr. Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information, during a press briefing held on Thursday in Abuja.
Upah expressed concerns over what he described as an ongoing effort by the government to impose a two-year tenure limit on labor leaders. He argued that such a move would constitute unwarranted meddling in the internal operations of trade unions and would violate both Nigeria’s Labour Law and key International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions.
“The Federal Government should put an end to the ongoing alleged hybrid war against Congress,” Upah stated, highlighting the NLC’s position against government interference in union affairs.
He further pointed out that if the government believes a two-year tenure is ideal, such a policy should be uniformly applied to all public offices, including the presidency and other principal public officers. “If government feels that two years is the best tenure to go, it should be two years for everyone, including the office of the President and principal public officers as well,” Upah added, challenging the government to lead by example.
In addition to defending the autonomy of trade unions, Upah also appealed to the government to cease its alleged interference in the internal affairs of the Labour Party, which is widely seen as the political arm of the labor movement. He accused the government of engaging in a campaign to destabilize opposition parties, urging an immediate halt to such activities.
Upah’s comments reflect growing tensions between the NLC and the Federal Government over what the union perceives as an encroachment on its rights and autonomy. The NLC’s stance is clear: any government attempt to dictate the terms of union leadership will be met with strong resistance, not only from labor leaders but potentially from the wider workforce as well.
The NLC’s warning comes at a critical time when labor unions are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with government policies, particularly those related to workers’ rights and welfare. As the debate over union autonomy and government intervention continues to unfold, the NLC has made it clear that it will not stand by while its leadership structure is undermined.
