A fresh crisis appears to be brewing within the organised labour movement following the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national leadership to distance itself from a pro-President Bola Tinubu political support group, Working People United (WoPU), led by former President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporeha.
The development has exposed growing divisions within labour circles over political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
Investigations revealed that the NLC national secretariat had issued a directive to affiliate unions and labour leaders, advising them not to associate with WoPU or participate in the inauguration of its Lagos State chapter, which held on Wednesday in Lagos.
The directive, however, appeared to have been ignored by the Chairperson of the NLC Lagos State Council, Comrade Agnes Sessi, who serves as the Lagos State Coordinator of the pro-Tinubu group.
Further findings indicated that the NLC leadership subsequently queried Sessi for allegedly disregarding the Congress’ directive and participating in the activities of WoPU.
The inauguration of the Lagos chapter of the group was attended by notable political figures, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
In a memo dated August 11, 2026, and signed by the Deputy General Secretary and Head of Information and Public Affairs of the NLC, Benson Upah, the Congress formally queried Sessi over her involvement with the organisation.
According to the memo, the NLC accused the Lagos labour leader of failing to inform or seek the approval of the Congress before associating with a group campaigning for the re-election of President Tinubu.
The Congress stated that her actions appeared to be inconsistent with the oath of office she swore to uphold as Chairperson of the Lagos State Council.
“Your involvement in the activities of the organisation appears to be in violation of 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.
The NLC further accused Sessi 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.”
Reacting to the development, WoPU National Coordinator-General, Comrade Williams Akporeha, described the NLC directive as unconstitutional and contrary to international labour standards on freedom of association.
In a statement, Akporeha accused the NLC leadership of abandoning its core mandate of protecting workers’ welfare and becoming entangled in partisan politics because of its opposition to President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to him, the directive issued by the NLC leadership amounted to an infringement on the constitutional rights of workers and citizens to freely associate with groups of their choice.
He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, arguing that workers have the right to belong to any political, social or professional organisation without interference.
Akporeha maintained that no provision of the NLC Constitution requires a political support group to obtain approval from the labour centre before operating.
He also accused NLC President Joe Ajaero of attempting to coerce affiliate unions and workers into supporting the Labour Party and its candidates.
Describing WoPU as a coalition of workers, artisans, traders and professionals from both the formal and informal sectors, Akporeha said the group was established to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid and other progressive candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
“It is unfortunate that some persons in the NLC are now arrogating powers they do not possess by directing unions and their members on which political groups they can join or support,” he said.
He argued that affiliate unions remain autonomous organisations governed by their respective constitutions and decision-making organs, and should not be subjected to political directives from a few individuals within the NLC leadership.
Akporeha further warned that attempts to restrict workers from belonging to organisations of their choice constituted a direct threat to democratic freedoms and the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
The controversy is expected to deepen debates within the labour movement over political participation and the role of organised labour in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
