From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Registrar of the Trade Unions in Nigeria, Falonipe Amos, has queried the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for meddling into the affairs of the Labour Party (LP) leadership, warning that the Act establishing the union did not permit it to interfere with the activities of any political party.
Amos, in a letter dated July 31, 2024, referred the NLC to Section 15 (1) (2) (3) of the Trade Unions Act ‘Cap T14 & TI5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, wherein it was stated that on no account should the NLC be involved in the running of political parties.
The NLC has been in contention with the leadership of the LP over the proprietary rights, insisting that it owns the party even against the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The registrar stated in the letter that Section 15 (1) of the Trade Union Act specifically states that it is illegal for the NLC or any other trade union to use monies generated by its members for the furtherance of any political objective.
“The following objectives, and no others, are political objective for this section, that is to say the making of contribution towards the funds of any political party;
“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 expense incurred before, during, or after election in connection with his candidature or election;
“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;
“The registration of electors in Nigeria or any part thereof;
“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.”