The Alliance for Social Justice has called into question the leadership of Joe Ajaero as national president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), saying recent events have shown a drastic degradation in the union, leading to a loss of credibility and trust among the Nigerian public.
The Alliance, comprising 52 groups, also accused the Ajaero’s led leadership of being inconsistent, deceptive, and insincere in their handling of issues of national importance.
The Chairman of the Alliance, Linus Akpegwu, in a statement, stated that the current leadership has acquired the reputation of being the worst in the history of workers’ struggles.
The Alliance singled out Ajaero and accused him of simply playing the script of his kinsman Peter Obi, in alleged attempt to smear the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The group emphasized that the current leadership has failed in its duty to represent the best interests of Nigerian workers and has instead become entangled in political games and personal vendettas.
The Alliance accused the NLC president, Mr. Ajaero , of being a mere pawn in the hands of Peter Obi, using the platform of the NLC to advance a political agenda that seeks to undermine the current administration of Tinubu.
“The specific incident in question involves the NLC president engaging in a campaign for Mr. Obi’s 2023 presidential election. This action by the president has resulted in physical violence and clashes with thugs, further raising concerns about his impartiality and the integrity of the NLC as a whole.
“By openly supporting a particular candidate, the president has not only compromised the credibility of the NLC but has also potentially divided its members and eroded trust in the organization.
“This blatant politicization of the NLC not only undermines the credibility of the organization but also erodes the trust that Nigerian workers have placed in their leadership.
“The NLC is meant to be a voice for the voiceless, a champion for the rights of workers, and a force to be reckoned with in the fight for social justice and economic equality. However, the current president has strayed far from these noble ideals, choosing instead to serve the interests of a select few at the expense of the greater good.
“It is clear that a change is needed within the NLC leadership if they are to regain the trust and confidence of the Nigerian public,” the coalition noted and called for a complete shake-up in the leadership of the NLC, with more transparent and accountable leaders being put in place.
‘This is not a demand to be taken lightly, as the NLC plays a crucial role in advocating for the rights of workers in Nigeria.
“Workers in Nigeria deserve better than what they are currently getting from their supposed representatives. It is time for the NLC to listen to the concerns of the people they are meant to serve and make the necessary changes to ensure that they are truly representing the interests of the working class.
“The NLC cannot continue to function effectively if it is led by individuals who are more interested in political gamesmanship than in the welfare of Nigerian workers. Transparency, accountability, and integrity are the values that should guide the leadership of the NLC, and it is clear that the current leadership has failed to uphold these principles,” the group said.
