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THE HISTORY OF NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] was formally constituted as the only national federation of trade unions in the country in 1978. Before then, four labour centres existed. These are Nigeria Trade Union Congress [NTUC], Labour Unity Front [LUF], United Labour Congress [ULC] and Nigeria Workers Council [NWC]. The emergence of the NLC ended decades of rivalry and rancour involving the four centres and unions affiliated to them. The unions, numbering over 1,000 were also restructured into 42 industrial unions.

The organisation has had a chequered history, surviving two instances of dissolution of its national organs and consequent appointment of state administrators. The first was in 1988 under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Congress’ opposition to the anti-people Structural Adjustment Programme incensed the military administration to take over the NLC.

The second military intervention was in 1994 during the regime of General Sani Abacha, whose government also became fed up with the labour movement’s agitation for the restoration of democracy. Like the initial case, the military government dissolved NLC’s National Executive Council and appointed a Sole Administrator. The same treatment was meted to the two unions in the oil and gas industry; National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers [NUPENG] and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria [PENGASSAN]. However, the administrators apparently added a further brief they plundered the finances of Congress and the two unions.

The dissolution exemplified the travails of Congress, its leadership, affiliates and state councils, under military rule. Arbitration, prolonged and unlawful detention of labour leaders, invasion and disruption of union meetings, seminars and other activities of Congress and its components by security forces and a vicious anti-labour campaign by the state generally marked the period. The military also invoked its legislative prerogatives to unleash all manner of legislation to check the activities of unions. For instance, under General Abacha, a decree that banned a section of the movement from holding leadership position in Congress came into effect.

However, with the death of General Abacha, the unions reclaimed Congress, culminating in a National Delegates Conference held on January 29, 1999. The leadership led the NLC from 1999 – February 2007 headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar became the President of NLC from February, 2007- 2011.
On March 1-3 2011, the Nigeria Labour Congress held its 10th National Delegates’ Conference at a decisive moment in the life of our great country and the annals of human kind with the theme: Building A New Nigeria: The Role of the Working Class Towards National Transformation

Consequent upon the successful conduct of the 10th Delegates’ Conference of the Congress, the following National Officers were elected in a most transparent election as members of the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Congress

How We Work

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) gives an equal voice to Nigerian workers, employers and governments

NLC Downloads

Here you can download all our policy and all other relevant NLC documents

NLC Policy Document .PDF

NLC Climate Change Policy .PDF

The Rights of Migrant Workers.PDF

MEET THE COMRADE PRESIDENT

Comrade Ayuba P. Wabba mni

Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba, mni, is a self-made intellectual and a hard-baked activist with an unflinching commitment to the cause of the downtrodden. This has fired his quest for knowledge and passion for social justice and the building of a more equitable and humane society.

A dogged fighter with strong convictions, Ayuba Wabba is an institution builder, a social critic and a believer in the rule of law and a stickler for accountability.

A Public Health Specialist, Ayuba Wabba had his early education at Kawo Primary School, Kaduna; Government Science Secondary School, Waka-Biu, Borno State, before proceeding to the School of Health Technology, Maiduguri. He was at various times at the Imo State University, Houdigbe North American University,Institute of Peace and Development, Israel; Royal Institute of Public Administration, London; Whaton Business School, USA from where he obtained various diplomas including PGD, Public Health and a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH).

He is an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru and a proud bearer of mni (member national institute.

In the course of his career in activism, he has held over a dozen positions including President, National Union of Health Technology Students; State (elected) Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN); State Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union; Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Borno State Council; National President, MHWUN; National Treasurer, Nigeria Labour Congress; Chairperson, Joint Health Sectors Union; Chairperson, West African Health Sector Unions Network. Comrade Ayuba was elected President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the biggest Labour Centre in Africa in March 2015.

He has been a member of various boards including Board of Management, Lagos University Teaching Hospital; Board of Management, National Health Insurance Scheme; National Labour Advisory Council; Board of Management, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Board of Management, National Productivity Centre; Non-Executive Director, Trustfund Pensions plc, and Member, National Conference.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba has attended dozens of key conferences some of which were PSI Congress, Vienna, Austria ; 2nd ITUC Congress, Vancouver, Canada; 3rd WHO Global Conference on Human Resource for Health, Recife, Brazil; Africa-US Economic Summit , Washington DC; ACFTU-NLC Bilateral, Beijing, China, ITUC General Council and CUT Conference Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In appreciation of his services to workers and humanity, Comrade Ayuba Wabba has been bestowed with a Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) of the Commonwealth University, Belize and a Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) of Dure State University. He is the Fiwagboye of Orile-Ifo and the Zanna Ma’alama of Borno Emirate, highly revered traditional titles.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba born on October 22, 1968, hails from Askira/Uba Local Government Council of Borno State. He is married with children.