Obasanjo Is Culpable In Detention, Killing Of Protesting Workers – Nigeria Labour Congress Hits Ex-President For Criticising Trade Unions
The union recalled Obasanjo’s attempts to proscribe the NLC and create a parallel labour centre after failing to control the organisation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fired back in a response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent critique of trade unions and workers’ welfare in his new book, “Nigeria: Past and Future.”
The NLC, in a statement released on Monday by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, reminded Obasanjo of his administration’s harsh treatment of labour leaders, including arrests, detentions, and even the killing of protesting workers
.
The union recalled Obasanjo’s attempts to proscribe the NLC and create a parallel labour centre after failing to control the organisation.
“If Chief Obasanjo has noticed an erosion in the powers of the trade unions, he should do a soul search. Who knows, he might find himself culpable,” the NLC stated.
NLC while acknowledging some of Obasanjo’s concerns, particularly his assertion that the minimum wage is insufficient to cover workers’ basic needs.
The union highlighted its demand for a N610,000 minimum wage, which was dismissed by the government and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), who instead proposed N50,000 without justification.
Ajaero noted that the subsequent stalemate led to a nationwide strike, which was only suspended when President Bola Tinubu intervened and offered N70,000.
While the NLC ultimately accepted the offer to mitigate further hardship for workers, it noted that President Tinubu had initially considered paying N250,000 but tied it to raising the pump price of petrol to N2,500 per litre — a move the union rejected to prevent additional suffering for Nigerians.
The NLC also rejected Obasanjo’s claim that trade union leaders had abandoned workers’ interests. It countered that workers’ rights have been denied by “malevolent governments and predatory employers,” not by union leaders.
Responding to Obasanjo’s claim that a trade union leader once negotiated to become a gubernatorial candidate while in office, the NLC pointed out that trade union leaders, like other Nigerians, have constitutional rights to seek political office.
It reminded the former president that the NLC has produced three governors directly from its leadership ranks, with the first instance occurring during Obasanjo’s tenure.
The union recalled that Obasanjo had once accused trade unions of acting like a “parallel government” and had attempted to weaken them by creating a rival labour centre.
The statement read, “We are delighted to have an ally in a personality as distinguished as our former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. In his latest book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo rehashed our argument when he writes inter alia, “The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep”.
“It was reason we asked for N610,000, which we had described as the barest acceptable minimum complete with a breakdown.
“Government, and NECA for inexplicable reasons made a counter offer of N50,000 without an explanation as to how much would go to what,” Ajaero stated.
According to NLC, “This inevitably led to a stalemate in negotiations and ultimately, a strike action which was suspended only after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over negotiations and made the offer of N70,000, a few thousands above the recommended figure by the Minimum Wage Committee.
“Of course, President Tinubu did accept to pay the N250,000 which was our last threshold but subject to raising the pump price of petrol to N2,500 or more per litre.
“Torn between foistering additional hardship on the citizenry and taking the N70,000, we opted for the latter even when we knew N70,000 was inadequate. We had to minimise the pain.”
He said, “There were also some “incentives” around the N70,000. For instance, the minimum wage cycle was reduced from five to three years, meaning that negotiations for a new minimum wage could begin as early as 2026.
“Other incentives included CNG buses for workers; free conversion kits for workers vehicles etc.
“Thus, this is contrary to Chief Obasanjo’s assertion that workers “…have become victims of those meant to protect their interests.”
The statement continues, “Of course, we do agree with Chief Obasanjo that: “Workers need more attention than they are getting. It is their right, and they been denied it for too long”. However, it is important to point out that it is malevolent governments and predatory employers that deny workers these rights and not union leaders.
“In every community, organisation or institution possibility does exist of bad eggs. It is same with trade unions but it is no reason to cast aspersions on most unions as Chief Obasanjo has done. We do not know his motive.
“On our part here, our struggles with government have been in the public domain, right from the unhealthy use of government institutions to harmstring us: from court injuctions, to harassment by the police and other security services, and even to other hideous acts of intimidation and brutalisation of the leadership of the Congress.”
Ajaero stated, “Do you still arrest or beat up people after paying them to keep quiet? There is something amiss here. This “senior government official close to the President” who made this statement should be questioned more closely. In the alternative, he should name names. The social media space is very much available for this kind of operation.
“Chief Obasanjo expressed outrage “…that a trade union leader while in office, was negotiating with a political party to be adopted as a gubernatorial candidate”.
“We would like to let him understand here with all due respect, that the right to political leadership as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is available to trade union leaders. The Supreme Court decision on this is affirmatory!
“The Nigeria Labour Congress has produced three governors straight from office. Incidentally, the first happened in Chief Obasanjo’s presidency,” he explained.
He explained that Chief Obasanjo is worried that “most union leaders are ineffective compared to the founding fathers’ expectations”. Which founding fathers is he talking about here?
“The ones the colonial masters harrassed or the ones he Chief Obasanjo either banned or detained?
“If Chief Obasanjo has noticed an erosion in the powers of the trade unions, he should do a soul search. Who knows, he might find himself culpable right from arrest and detention of union leaders, killing of protesting workers, his national broadcast wherein he accused the unions “of conducting themselves like a parallel government”.
“And above all, his vengeful plan and mission to proscribe the Nigeria Labour Congress. When the plot failed, he created a parallel labour centre. We recall the punishment he meted out to the Parliamentarians like Honourable Obete Obete for not playing his script.
“Given this historical fact, it is uncharitable of Chief Obasanjo to turn on the unions. But then we respect our elders here.
“In summary, governments should stop undermining the unions for their selfish interests,” Ajaero added.
