How new NLC President will emerge

FACTORS that will determine who emerges the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have started unfolding at the on-going 11th delegates conference in Abuja.

Voting is expected to commence at the International Conference Centre (ICC) venue of the conference Wednesday. 

There were unconfirmed reports that President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and natural Gas (NUPENG), Igwe Achese, may have tactically withdrawn from the race. He was said to have pitched his tent with the General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero. 

But in a telephone conversation, Igwe denied stepping down, saying, “stepping down? No I have not.”

The alleged withdrawal of Igwe has not opened up a two-horse race between Ajaero and President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Wabba Ayuba. 

Interestingly the three contestants (before the alleged withdrawal of Igwe) are part of the out-going National Executive Council (NAC). Wabba is currently the Treasurer of Congress while Ajaero is a deputy president and Igwe is Trustee. Out of the three, only Wabba is a two-term member of the National Administrative Council. Both Igwe and Ajaero are serving in their capacities for the first time.

Prior to the submission of their nomination forms to the credentials committee headed by the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasir Fagge, the three contestants were invited to a truce meeting with a view to finding amicable settlement for two out of the three contestants to step down for one while the two that step down would be compensated with other positions. The Guardian learnt that two of the candidates offered to run the race. 

Again, it was gathered that during the public/private sector dichotomy was mooted during consultation among various unions where it was alleged that the post of the president was ceded to the private sector. The NUPENG President insisted that the presidency was ceded to him at one of those meetings.

Another position that is generating keen interest is one of the deputy president. Presently, there are three contestants that include: Peters Adeyemi, (General Secretary of NASU), Kiri Mohammed (President of Civil service union) and Issa Aremu (General Secretary of NUTGTWN). 

The disqualification of the President of NURTW, Najeem Yasin is likely to be determined by the delegates’ conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the NLC. There are palpable fears in the camp of Issa Aremu that he may not win the election if the delegates’ conference clears Yasin to contest. 

Yasin was disqualified on the improper filling of form. In time past union of such candidates are alerted and the mistake corrected. 

Therefore, out of the 3119 votes on offer, The Guardian gathered that Wabba is tipped to win the election especially as he was swift to get NASU to his side and was equally able to convinced Adeyemi to vie to deputy president along with some of his colleagues in the ‘Integrity group’ who were offered various position in the in-coming NAC.    

Traditionally, unions such as the MHWUN, NUT, NASU and NCSU share between then more than one-third of the 3119 delegates.