The Ministry of Labour and Employment has cautioned the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from interfering in the activities of the Labour Party (LP) and other political parties as it contravenes the Act that set up the duo.
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure had written to the Ministry of Labour and Employment on July 10th, 2024 to define the roles of the NLC, in a letter dated 31st July, the Department of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations at the Ministry clearly explained the role of NLC and TUC in political activities.
Recall that the NLC had in the recent past, made efforts to hijack the structures of the Labour Party through a failed effort to break into the National Headquarters of the party in Abuja.
Also, the NLC National Transition Committee (NTC) had continued to interfere in the activities of the Labour Party to the extent that it refused to recognise the Party’s Chairman, Abure and continuously issued counter directives to the members of the party.
But a letter signed by the Director/Registrar of Trade Unions Falonipe Amos on behalf of the Minister of State Labour and Employment referred to Section 15 (1) (2) (3) of the Trade Unions Act Cap T14 & T15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which states that Trade Union dues not to be applied for political purposes unless the rules of trade union otherwise provide, in so far as the funds of a trade union represent payments which the members are required to make under the rules, whether, by way of subscriptions, dues or otherwise, those funds shall not be applied (whether directly, or through any other union, association or body, or in any other indirect manner) to the furtherance of any political objective.
“If any of the funds of a trade union are applied to the furtherance of political objective in contravention of subsection (1) of this section the trade union and every official thereof shall be guilty of an offence under this Act”, the letter said.
The Ministry also reminded the NLC and the TUC of the political objective for the purpose of this section: the payment of any expenses incurred (whether directly or indirectly) by a candidate or prospective candidate for election to any political office in Nigeria or any part of Nigeria, being expenses incurred before, during, or after the election in connection with his candidature or election.
Others are the holding of any meeting or the distribution of any literature or document in support of any such candidate or prospective candidate, the maintenance of any person while he holds in Nigeria or any part of Nigeria a political office to which he has been elected, and the registration of electors in Nigeria or any part thereof.
And the holding of a political meeting of any kind or the distribution of political literature or political documents of any kind, unless the main purpose of the meeting or distribution is to further the regulation of the terms and conditions of the employment of workers.
“I wish to urge the leadership of the NLC to be guided by the above provisions of the Trade Unions Act in dealing with the Labour Party and any other political parties,” the letter concluded.
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