NLC Queries Lagos Chairman Over Pro-Tinubu Group Involvement

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is facing internal conflict following a directive from its national secretariat that instructs affiliate unions and officials to avoid the Working People United (WoPU), a support group for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Tensions escalated when Agnes Sessi, the Lagos State Council Chairman of the NLC and Coordinator of WoPU, engaged in WoPU activities on August 11, 2026, despite the NLC's directive.

The NLC's Deputy General Secretary, Benson Upah, issued a memo querying Sessi's actions, accusing her of violating her oath of office and undermining the Congress's authority. The memo stated that her involvement raised concerns about her responsibilities as an elected officer.

Williams Akporeha, the national leader of WoPU, criticized the NLC's directive as an infringement on workers' constitutional rights to associate freely, arguing it contradicts Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. This situation has ignited a broader debate within labor circles regarding the NLC's authority over the political activities of its members.