Working People United (WoPU) has demanded an immediate apology from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over a directive allegedly issued to presidents and general secretaries of affiliate unions to boycott the inauguration of its Lagos State chapter.
WoPU, in a statement, also demanded the withdrawal of the directive, describing it as an affront to workers’ constitutional right to freedom of association.

The group said the directive, which it attributed to some persons within the NLC hierarchy, sought to prevent workers from participating in an association of their choice.

According to WoPU, the directive was a violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right of Nigerians to freely assemble and associate with others, including through political parties, trade unions and other associations.
It further argued that its members had the right to participate in WoPU without seeking approval from any NLC official.
WoPU said: “The NLC’s directive effectively seeks to dictate which organisations workers may join. This is a direct contravention of Section 40 of the Constitution, which protects the right of every person to associate freely.”
The group also cited International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 on freedom of association and the right to organise, as well as Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining, arguing that workers should be free to establish and join organisations of their choice.

WoPU maintained that the NLC had no legal authority to prevent workers from forming or joining a political association.
It said its position was further strengthened by the Supreme Court’s affirmation that freedom of association included the right to associate or dissociate from any group.

The group stressed that WoPU was not a parallel labour organisation or an attempt to undermine the NLC, but a movement comprising working people across the formal and informal sectors, including artisans, market men and women, and workers in the public and private sectors.
WoPU said it was established by working people who had chosen to participate in politics and support what it described as good governance.

It also affirmed its support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and said its members were exercising their constitutional rights by backing the President and other candidates it considered progressive.
The group accused some NLC officials of attempting to dictate the political choices of workers, alleging that similar efforts were made during the last general elections to compel workers to support a particular political party and candidate.
WoPU said such an approach was inconsistent with the individual rights of workers and the autonomy of affiliated unions.
It therefore called on the NLC to withdraw the directive, respect Section 40 of the Constitution and uphold Nigeria’s obligations under ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
Most importantly, the group demanded that the NLC immediately apologise to WoPU and its members over the directive.
“Immediately issue an apology to WoPU and her members for such ill directive,” the group demanded.
WoPU also called on Nigerian workers to exercise their constitutional rights by joining associations of their choice without intimidation.

It urged workers to reject what it described as anti-democratic directives and reiterated its commitment to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda and President Tinubu’s 4+4 vision.
The group said it would not apologise for its decision to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that such political participation was within the rights of its members.
WoPU further expressed support for its Lagos State chapter chairperson, Comrade Funmi Sessi, against what it described as attempts to malign or intimidate her over her involvement with the organisation.

It called on security agencies, including the Department of State Services, as well as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and the Minister of Labour and Employment, to be alert to what it described as possible harassment and intimidation of working people.
WoPU said it remained committed to the unity, productivity and progress of Nigerian workers, declaring that it would not be silenced by intimidation.