Ajaero is new NLC helmsman

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has sworn-in new executives with Mr Joe Ajaero as the new president to lead the workers for the next four years.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajaero, former General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Union, was voted on consensus at the 13th NLC’s National Delegates Conference in Abuja.

NAN also reports that Ajaero took over the NLC leadership from Ayuba Wabba, who served between 2015 and 2023.

In his acceptance speech, the new NLC president said that the executives were committed to pursuing the interest and desires of workers and the entire Nigerians.

He promised that his leadership would speak for the millions of Nigerians and also seek a platform to lift them out of poverty.

”We, therefore, pledge our loyalty to the NLC, workers, the Nigerian people and the country. Our thoughts and actions shall be propelled by this avowal,” he said.

He said that his leadership would pursue a new national minimum wage law that would take into consideration the objective reality of the socio-economic situation, and expand its reach to capture more workers.

According to him, the wage review law will be sought through the national labour advisory council, to ensure that all loopholes exploited by workplace partners to restrict the efforts of making workplaces more decent compliance are blocked.

”We urge all employers of labour who have unsettled issues with their workers and unions to immediately resolve them to avoid our intervention,” he said.

Ajaero urged the government to review the privatisation policy on the electricity sector as it was mired in corruption.

Other members of the executive include Prince Adewale Adeyanju, Deputy National President; Mr Audu Amber, 2nd Deputy National President; Mr Kabiru Sani, also a National Deputy President.

Ambali Olatunji was elected the National Treasurer; Benjamin Anthony, Vice President; Mr Steve Okoro, Vice President; Mr Michael Nnachi, Vice President; Mr Olawole Sunday, Vice President; Mr Marwan Adamu, Financial Secretary.

Others are, Mr Williams Akporeha, National Trustee; and three Internal Auditors, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim and Haruna Ibrahim; as well as two ex-officio members.

Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has said that Mr Joe Ajaero, newly elected president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has the capacity and capability to lead the congress.

SCSN’s President, Mr Tommy Okon, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos following the election of the labour leader.

Ajaero, former deputy president of NLC and sole candidate for the office of the president, emerged as successor to Mr Ayuba Wabba, whose eight-year tenure ended.

“Our advice to him is that he should build on the good leadership foundation laid by his predecessors.

“He should ensure synergy between NLC and Trade Union Congress for the interest of the Nigerian workers and the masses.

“It is not a time to show superiority at all because the present socioeconomic challenges require collective efforts of the two labour centres to mobilise all affiliates, including opinion leaders in all strata, to address the challenges.

“He should collaborate with the social partners to ensure the passage of the labour bill into an Act to check the unfair labour practices in the land, “ he said.

Okon also urged the new NLC president to hold government accountable for the welfare and well-being of the workers and masses.

He said that the new president should do this, especially at a point where there was public outcry due to policy summersault, especially in the oil and gas, as well as, financial sectors.

“He is coming at a time when Nigerian workers are in dire need of purposeful trade union leaderships. I have known him for over three decades.

“I have no doubt in my mind that he will live up to the workers’ expectations,“ Okon said.