Our party belongs to Nigerian workers — not NLC, says LP deputy chair

Ayo Olorunfemi, deputy national chair of the Labour Party (LP), says it is “absurd” for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to claim ownership of the party. 

The leadership of NLC and the LP have been at loggerheads in recent weeks.

The NLC has passed a vote of no confidence on Julius Abure, national chair of LP, and called for his resignation.

The NLC also alleged that Abure is running the affairs of the LP like a sole administrator.

The LP, in its reaction, said if Joe Ajaero, NLC president, is desperate to succeed Abure as LP chairman, he should resign as NLC president and contest during the party’s national convention.

On Wednesday, NLC members picketed the national secretariat of the Labour Party (LP) in Abuja, while calling for the postponement of the party’s convention.

During the protest, some in the crowd reiterated that LP belongs to the NLC.

Reacting to the development, Olorunfemi, in a chat with Arise TV, said the Labour Party is owned by “Nigerian workers” and not NLC.

He added that the “TUC, NLC, professional bodies and the informal sector of the economy… and they are all owners of the Labour Party”.

The deputy chairman said any worker interested in the party’s decision-making process must be a duly registered member of the party.

“The Labour Party belongs to Nigerian workers, not NLC. The earlier we understand this, the better,” Olurunfemi said.

“We have TUC, NLC, professional bodies and the informal sector of the economy, and they are all owners of the Labour Party. So, for NLC to lay sole claim to the ownership of the party is absurd.

“NLC has a representative in the party’s NWC and BOT, the TUC also has the same. So, NLC cannot be laying claims to the Labour Party. It is truly owned by Nigerian workers.

“Even at that, any worker who wants to be a member of the party must be duly registered. You cannot claim to own a party and sit in Abuja and continue to claim ownership. It does not work that way.”