By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The leadership of the Labour Party yesterday alleged that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajero, is responsible for the crisis rocking the party and not the Federal government.In his reaction to the allegation by Ajero, Nenadi Usman and others said that the Labour Party is being destabilized by the federal government because of the potential of the party, the party’s Spokesman; Obiora Ifoh said they are economical with the truth.

“The NLC President, Ajero who is now sounding like a broken record, also restated his resolve to invade unannounced the national and state Secretariats of the Labour Party, with his armies, with the intention to take over the party forcefully.”We must state clearly and categorically that if there is any person or organization that has destabilized the Labour Party or who is working to destabilize the party, it is no other person than Joe Ajero and the NLC.”We must also state here that after the general election in 2023, the party has no issues at all, we had no faction and we had no major disagreement in the party.”It was Ajero who went ahead to illegally, unprofessionally and unconstitutionally set up a so-called Transition Committee which went all over the place making noise and debasing the image of the party.”It was the same Committee set up by Ajero that was going to INEC everyday, constituting nuisance, all in attempt to destabilize the party, mobilizing people, including old and retired men, including Abdulawaheed Omar, Ejiofor, Lawson Osagie and Prof. Theophilus Ndubaku, men who should be resting after many years of serving their fatherland, to go against the interest of the party.”Nigerians all over, have asked Ajero to concentrate on his primary assignment to fight for the welfare of workers. The regulatory body in charge of the Labour Union in the Ministry of Labour has also publicly admonished Ajero to excuse himself from matters concerning politics and to face his legitimate assignment as a defender of workers rights.”We put it on record that Ajero’s led NLC in all its ramifications has failed the Nigerian workers as shown by his last May Day speech. Today, Nigeria workers are oppressed, the economy is not working, there are unfair practices against workers, and nobody speaks for the oppressed workers in Nigeria, yet Ajero is busy plotting his future political ambition and toiling with the welfare of workers.”Over the past few years, instead of the NLC to be in support of the party, and for the party to draw strength from the Labour movement as it’s done in some Scandinavian countries such as in Brazil, Australia etc, what we found in Nigeria is a reversed approach were the NLC which ought to be a source of strength, is constituting itself as a destabilizing factor for the Labour Party.”Since 2015, this same NLC was the one that set up the Caretaker Committee that is unknown to the party constitution headed by one Salisu Mohammed. If there is any group or persons who have worked against the interest of the Labour Party, it is NLC and Joe Ajero.”So he should not shift the blame to any person, he should squarely take responsibility for whatever is happening in the party today.”We are also calling on all genuine members of the Labour Party to distance themself from the illegal activities of the Nenadi Usman group and their ploy to manipulate unsuspecting party members from parting with their hard earned money through illegal Congresses they are planning.”They do not have the powers to conduct any party activity, congresses inclusive. Be warned.”

Labour Party open to all Nigerians but not for sale — NLC President

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared the Labour Party open to defectors, pledging to provide equal political opportunities for all Nigerians regardless of social status, religion, or ethnicity.The Congress added that the party is open to all Nigerians and willing to welcome defectors.NLC President, Joe Ajaero who spoke in Abuja during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Labour Party held yesterday alleged that government agencies were actively working to destabilise the party through various clandestine plots.“All agencies of government are involved in these destabilisation plots. We must be clear about this.“They must be told to remove their hands from the organisation of the Workers’ Party. That is a sin. Across over 57 countries of the world, Labour Parties are functional and driven by workers’ unions,” Ajaero warned.He cited the British Trades Union Congress (TUC), which has for decades operated the Labour Party using a union office, as an example of global practice.“So why should Nigeria be different? Why would the government keep eyes on the Labour Party here?” He queried.Ajaero reaffirmed that the Labour Party is not the exclusive preserve of the NLC but a party “formed by Congress and given to Nigerians with a clear-cut ideology.”He emphasised the platform’s openness and commitment to inclusivity.He also criticised attempts to use the Supreme Court to interfere in internal party affairs, asserting that the apex court has already ruled that internal crises should be resolved through mechanisms within the party.“When people talk about Supreme Court rulings, I wonder if the Supreme Court is now the one to run political parties. It is not the Supreme Court that constitutes the Labour Party,” he insisted.Taking a swipe at other political parties that charge exorbitant fees for expression of interest and nomination forms, Ajaero contrasted them with the Labour Party, which he said is rooted in pro-people values.In the Labour Party, we don’t charge hundreds of millions to contest elections because we can’t afford it. We are in politics to add value to society, to bring relief to the oppressed—not to profit from the people’s misery,” he said.Encouraging defectors from other political parties to join, Ajaero stressed the enduring institutional nature of the Labour Party.“This is our party. We do not defect. NLC and TUC are institutional members. When politicians defect, we remain. Soldiers come, soldiers go, but the barracks remain.”He called on all stakeholders to unite and work collectively towards strengthening the party and achieving its goals.Earlier, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the party, Dr Sylvester Ejiofor, lamented that previous efforts to resolve internal crises had failed because they lacked alignment with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the widely accepted ‘Consent Judgement’ of the Federal High Court in Abuja.