The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have pledged to support the campaign to ensure that the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi emerges the winner in the 2023 presidential election.
The leadership of the NLC and TUC made the pledge in separate addresses on Tuesday, June 28, in Abuja.
NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba spoke during the 10th Memorial Lecture in honour of the late Pascal Bafyau.
Wabba described Peter Obi as one of the finest Nigerians; as well as the first presidential candidate of the Labour Party to be recognised by the labour centre.
According to Wabba, the NLC is solidly behind Labour Party; adding that it will fully mobilise to ensure the victory of the party come 2023 general elections.
He said that workers’ unions had realised that strikes and protests alone could not change the narratives in Nigeria; especially in regard to workers’ welfare and fair treatment of the working people. According to him, hence labour must venture fully into politics and work hard to support candidates whose mantra will make life better for their members and Nigerians at large.
On his part, TUC president, Mr Quadri Olaleye, said that; “Peter Obi is a face among the presidential candidates that all labour unions are pleased and are ready to work with.”
According to Olaleye, the entire labour movement has accepted, adopted and will support, and ensure workers massively vote for him in the 2023 presidential elections.
”The Labour Party is stronger, one and formidable and the party has a widespread structure…There is a worker and members of either TUC or NLC in every family across Nigeria.”
”Labour Party is the only party for Nigerian workers,” he said.
In his address, Mr Peter Obi said his visit to the leadership of the two labour centres was not to campaign; but for a courtesy call to honour the Organised Labour on whose party and interest he was seeking Nigerians’ votes.
“My commitment is to move Nigeria from consumption to production and you can not talk about production without labour.
“Labour is the engine of production, capital and machine can do anything but labour is what makes it work.
”Because labour is the greatest contributor to production, it has to be properly remunerated.
“I do not need to tell you how bad things are in this country today. if you are on wages, today Nigerians spend 100 per cent of their wages on just feeding.
”So many don’t even know where their next meal will come from. They pay to train their children only for them to finish school and stay at home without work,” he said.
