Crisis is unfolding between the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and some affiliates of the organised labour union, following a directive from the labour body prohibiting its affiliates from associating with a pro-Tinubu support group, Working People United (WoPU).
WoPU is led by the immediate past president of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporeha.
Investigations revealed that the national leadership of the NLC issued a formal directive to its members, instructing them to refrain from attending the inauguration of the Lagos State chapter of the pro-Tinubu group, which took place on Wednesday in Lagos.
The Lagos State NLC chairman, Comrade Agnes Sessi, is said to be the state coordinator for the pro-Tinubu group.
Further inquiries indicated that Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC’s leadership, queried the chairman of its Lagos Council for allegedly ignoring the directive against attending the inauguration of WoPU, which was attended by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos, Obafemi Hamzat.
In a memo dated August 11, 2026, and signed by the Deputy General Secretary and Head of the Information Department and Public Affairs of the NLC, Benson Upah, Comrade Sessi was queried regarding her involvement with the group.
The NLC further accused her of failing to inform or consult the congress’ leadership before associating with a group advocating for a renewed mandate for President Tinubu.
“Your involvement in the activities of the organisation appears to violate the oath of office you took as chairperson of the Lagos State Council and raises serious concerns regarding your obligations to the congress,” the memo stated.
It accused her of “betraying the oath of office”, “acting in contravention of the established rules, regulations, and directives of the congress”, “promoting or supporting a parallel organisation to the congress”, and “undermining the authority of the national body.”
In reaction to the developments, the national coordinator-general of the pro-Tinubu forum, Comrade Akporeha, condemned the NLC national secretariat’s directive instructing presidents and general secretaries of affiliate unions not to associate with WoPU.
Akporeha described it as a gross violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the International Labour Organisation Convention on freedom of association.
“They have now ignored their constitutional mandate of protecting workers’ welfare to dabble in politics solely to oppose the re-election of Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2027.
“Working People United sees this directive as an affront to the sensibilities of Nigerian workers, citizens, and our constitutional rights,” he stated.
WoPU said it regards the directive as a fundamental violation of the constitutional rights of Nigerian workers to freedom of association, as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union, or any other association for the protection of his/her interests.”
Comrade Akporeha insisted that “no law in the NLC constitution requires that a political support group must seek approval from certain individuals in the hierarchy before it operates.”
