A fresh wave of internal unrest has hit the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), with growing calls for the resignation of its National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
What began as disagreements over tactics and leadership has escalated into a full-blown crisis, unfolding against the backdrop of Nigeria’s economic turmoil marked by soaring inflation, rising living costs, and deepening worker discontent.
A coalition of civil society groups, under the banner of the Campaign for the Protection of Workers’ Rights in Nigeria, has openly demanded Ajaero’s resignation. Speaking at a press briefing in Kano themed “NLC Meddlesomeness in the Affairs of the Senate: A Call for Caution”, the coalition’s National Coordinator, Comrade Abubakar Ado, accused the NLC leader of lacking leadership, integrity, and transparency.
The coalition argued that Nigerians expected the NLC to prioritize insecurity, inflation, and workers’ welfare rather than pursuing partisan political battles. Critics further alleged that Ajaero has lost the trust of union affiliates and civil society allies, pointing to what they describe as halfhearted protests and fruitless strikes that have failed to deliver tangible benefits for workers.
On his part, Ajaero has dismissed the calls for his resignation, describing the agitators as “fringe groups with little or no relevance within the NLC.” He vowed to press ahead with the union’s fight for a living wage and social justice, insisting that his mandate remains intact.
The conflict, however, is already straining the labor movement. In August 2024, when Ajaero faced threats of arrest, allied unions threatened to shut down the national grid and telecom services in solidarity — a sign of how deeply the discord resonates across union ranks.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is watching closely, as fresh negotiations over the national minimum wage, electricity tariffs, and other contentious economic policies are expected to resume in 2026.
Observers warn that unless the NLC resolves its leadership crisis, its credibility as Nigeria’s foremost workers’ movement risks further erosion. Once seen as a moral force for justice, the NLC now faces questions about its relevance at a time when workers are increasingly burdened by economic hardship.
📩 Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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