The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos State Council, has commenced a statewide engagement of its affiliate unions to strengthen industrial relations, deepen internal cohesion and reposition organised labour for more effective advocacy under its new leadership.

The initiative, “TUC Walk and Talk with Affiliates,” is driven by the state council’s leadership under the chairmanship of Abiodun Aladetan, and is designed to promote sustained dialogue, trust-building, and practical collaboration between the council and its diverse affiliate unions.

According to the Council’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiawu Gbolahan, the engagement tour reflects the leadership’s conviction that durable industrial relations are anchored on continuous consultation, mutual respect, and a clear understanding of sector-specific workplace realities.

Gbolahan said the Lagos TUC was deliberately taking engagement to the operational spaces of its affiliates to move beyond formal meetings and embrace a more inclusive, participatory, and responsive model of trade union administration.

“The goal is to listen, learn, and act,” he said, noting that the initiative would help the Congress identify areas requiring strategic intervention, advocacy, and coordination, while encouraging stronger cooperation among affiliates.

He added that the approach is aimed at reinforcing unity within the labour movement, reducing fragmentation, and fostering collective responses to shared challenges confronting workers in Lagos state.

The engagement tour, which began in December 2025, opened with a visit to the leadership of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), led by its Branch Chairman, Samsudeen Ajala, where discussions focused on sector-specific challenges, organisational sustainability, and the critical role of transport stakeholders in Lagos’ socio-economic ecosystem.

According to Gbolahan, the interaction deepened mutual understanding and generated insights expected to strengthen solidarity and collaboration within the Congress.

The Council has also engaged the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), with discussions centred on workers’ welfare, industrial harmony, and areas of cooperation within the financial services sector.

Gbolahan said the engagements underscore the Lagos TUC’s resolve to ensure that the voices of affiliate unions shape policy direction and collective action, stressing that the council remains committed to advancing unity, promoting social dialogue, and safeguarding the collective interests of workers across the state.